NEW: ADDISON YOGA LOFT Opening March 23, Addison Yoga Loft is the newest yoga studio to settle in West Berkeley. Sharing the same building with the new Highwire Coffee shop, which recently bought Local 123, Addison Yoga Loft will offer a variety of yoga classes from Ashtanga Flow to Prenatal. “I’m in love with the sense of community Berkeley has,” said owner Anna Volfe. “There is such a positive creative spirit in the city.” The Loft will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and it offers a new student intro package — three classes for $20 — as well as a free beginner yoga class at noon every first Saturday of the month. Addison Yoga Loft is at 2051 San Pablo Ave. (between University Avenue and Addison Street).
CLOSING: GENKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT Berkeleyside reader Stefan Lasiewski alerted us via Twitter that Genki Japanese Restaurant will close at the end of the month. Berkeleyside confirmed the disappointing news with a restaurant employee today. The owners of the restaurant are retiring and will shutter the restaurant soon. It’s unclear what will happen to the building after the closure. Genki Japanese Restaurant is at 1610 San Pablo Ave. (between Cedar and Virginia streets).
CLOSED: LITTLE SAIGON A local favorite for Vietnamese food, Little Saigon closed last month to the dismay of its regular customers. Serving phos as cheap as $6.25 and Vietnamese sandwiches for $3.25 during lunchtime, Little Saigon was a hit among budget-friendly meal-seekers. “I’ve been to countless Vietnamese restaurants and shops… but this is the first small shop that can even come close to authentic Vietnamese soup,” said Yelp reviewer Alan G. Little Saigon was at 1717 University Ave. (between McGee Avenue and Grant Street).
MOVING: SAXOLOGY/SAXCRAFT The saxophone repair shop Saxcraft will move from its longtime home on University Avenue to a new location on Martin Luther King Jr. Way later in the spring, said owner Eric Drake. “We’re moving over to 1920 MLK in April/May,” said Drake in an email to Berkeleyside. Saxology/Saxcraft is at 1956 University Ave. (between Bonita Avenue and Milvia Street).
COMING SOON: TEARRIFIC As we reported on Bites last week, the Telegraph Channing Mall is undergoing a re-vamp, and one of the new businesses headed in is the tea shop Tearrific. Owner Marcella Gutierrez plans to sell bobo flavored teas, shaved ice, smoothies and fresh juices, as well as French and Danish pastries. Tearrific will be at 2432 Durant Ave. (at Telegraph Avenue). Read more on Nosh.
COMING SOON: THE REC ROOM Also revealed on Bites, a new café and education space is coming to South Berkeley, hopefully by April. The Rec Room bills itself as a “family spot,” an indoor space where parents and caretakers can come with small children to eat, learn and chat. In addition to local, organic and nut-free food, coffee and tea, The Rec Room will offer everything from free pre-school activities and child-minding, to classes on creative writing, cooking and science for elementary-aged children. The Rec Room will be at 3222 Adeline St. (between Fairview and Harmon streets). Read more on Nosh.
Seung Y. Lee is a journalist who has previously worked at the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and the Daily Californian.
Shop Talk is our regular column in which we post updates on Berkeley businesses. 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, and check out Bites for the latest East Bay restaurant news.
