YOUTH SPIRIT ARTWORKS Youth Spirit Artworks is moving a few doors down to a new, bigger location in the Lorin District at 1740 Alcatraz Ave. on Oct 1. Executive Director Sally Hindman said the new spot will be shared with a startup company, but that there will still be a great deal more space for the group’s participants. Youth Spirit is a nonprofit that helps homeless and low-income youth from around the Bay Area get involved in crafting studio art and selling it through an enterprise program called the Art Cart. The organization will host a grand opening for its new location in early November. Individuals interested to learn more about the program’s work can drop by for the unveiling of a new mural painted by the center’s youth at Alcatraz and Sacramento Street this Saturday, Sept. 28, from noon to 2 p.m.
THE SAGE CENTERS A new co-working space for people over 50 called The SAGE Centers — not to be confused with the David Brower Center-based SAGE organization, which stands for Sustainable Agriculture Education — is opening at 1454 Sixth St. in West Berkeley. The organization had its grand opening party Sept. 21, but will open its doors officially Oct. 1. The SAGE Centers plans to operate as a business incubator and shared workspace that is “more focused on building relationships between people, rather than human to computer.” The facility also doubles as an educational space where members and non-members can take classes such as “Checking out Your Inner Entrepreneur,” “Vibrant After 50 Support Group” and “Delicious Gluten-free Cooking,” as well as other sessions that deal with brain science, how relationships change, exercise and music. Learn more on The SAGE Centers website.
NEW RESTAURANTS FOR BERKELEY Our Bites column published Friday brought the news of a bunch of new restaurants slated to open in Berkeley. Here’s a refresher in case you missed it: Downtown Berkeley may get a new watering hole called Tupper & Reed in the former Beckett’s location at 2271 Shattuck Ave. The owners of Bistro Liaison hope to open a new eatery, Petit Cochon, in the former Oggi location, also downtown. Lots of changes are coming to the Lorin: Lemat Ethiopian Restaurant and Café is scheduled to open next summer at 3212 Adeline St. Thai restaurant Giin Thai Canteen is slated to open in the former location of Le Bayou Cajun and Creole Café at 3278 Adeline St. Rasa Café plans to open in the former Alchemy Collective location at 3140 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. And Domino’s Pizza is headed back to the Lorin with a new “Pizza Theater” concept that will be “the first of its kind in the greater Bay Area.” Coming to downtown Berkeley in October: Cakes and Purls is moving across the passageway from its current location at 2115 Allston Way; and burger shop Eureka! is expected to open soon on Center Street, with plans to hire 75 year-round employees.
SPIRIT STORE It’s never too early to start researching your Halloween costume, right? Spirit, purveyors of exclusively Halloween merchandise, opened in early September at 2187 Shattuck Ave. (in the old Walgreen’s space). The store is currently looking to hire five more employees who will work from late September through November 2, when the business shutters for another year. For inquiries about Halloween products or employment contact the store.
CHRISTMAS TREE LOTS The winter holidays may be even further away than Halloween, but that doesn’t mean merchants aren’t getting prepared already. Berkeley has already received two applications for permits to set up Christmas tree lots, at 1201 San Pablo Ave. and 1698 University Ave.
Shop Talk is our regular column in which we post updates on Berkeley businesses — openings, closings, new directions, relaunches, relocations. If you’re a Berkeley business with news, or a Berkeleysider who has spotted a change in your neighborhood or on your travels, shoot us an email with the details. Read previous Shop Talk columns. Check out also our weekly Bites column, which provides food news for the whole East Bay.
-By Eli Wolfe
