PHILZ COFFEE Philz Coffee is set to open a second Berkeley shop (its first is at 1600 Shattuck Ave. at Cedar) in the Gilman District Project at 9th and Gilman in West Berkeley that will also house Whole Foods and Office Depot. Matt Holmes from Retail West, who is working with the developers of the project, said they could have chosen any major coffee chain but decided to select “a more artisan and community minded tenant like Philz Coffee.” Philz, which has 14 Bay Area locations, is expanding following a multi-million dollar investment announced earlier this year. More businesses look likely to move in to the Gilman District Project. According to Holmes, they are still looking for a “unique chef-driven fast casual concept” for a 3,100 square foot space in the building, which used to be a bread factory. The new Philz Coffee will be at 1313 9th Street, Suite 110, near Gilman.
NANNA’S HOUSE A new arrival in Berkeley’s burgeoning CalJulia neighborhood is Nanna’s House, at 2987 Sacramento St. (at Ashby). The take-out restaurant is family-owned and named after owner Vernon’s grandmother. Expect comfort food on the menu like fried chicken, turkey wings, burritos, tacos, burgers (all-beef, turkey, veggie). Sides include greens, fried rice, red beans, mac n’ cheese, and corn. For dessert? Nanna’s tea cakes, cobbler, and ice cream. “Eats and treats just like Nanna made,” said Vernon. The family also owns the Virje Designs clothing store next door.
CUGINI MANZONE Giuseppe Manzone, along with his brother Michele and sister-in-law Leslie, is opening Cugini Manzone in the shuttered Fillipo’s space at 2930 College Ave. in the Elmwood. The owners have imported a wood-burning pizza oven from Italy and plan on using it to cook, from scratch, many Italian dishes, including “authentic” Italian pizzas, according to Giuseppe Manzone. “The oven is amazing to work with. It gets up to 800 degrees and and kisses the food with a smokey flavor,” said Giuseppe Manzone. Cugini Manzone is slated to open in late January and will be open daily for lunch and dinner, as well as a “spuntino” mid-afternoon menu.
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.
