TERRA FIRMA GALLERY: RELOCATED Terra Firma Gallery has moved from the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa to Shattuck Avenue in the Gourmet Ghetto. The gallery specializes in contemporary African art and features, among other things, a collection of Shona sculpture from Zimbabwe and works by “Smithsonian acclaimed painter” Wosene Worke Kosrof, who will be giving a talk about newly released paintings at the gallery on the evening of Nov. 12. There are also museum-quality masks, colorful Zulu wire baskets, as well as the work of several Bay Area artists. Terra Firma Gallery is at 1801 Shattuck Ave. (between Hearst and Delaware), Suite B. Tel: 510-486 9050.
TUESDAY MORNING: TO CLOSE Tuesday Morning, the low-cost store at 2480 Shattuck Ave. that sells food, rugs, lamps, dishes and other decorative home objects, will be shutting its doors in early January, according to a clerk at the store. Tuesday Morning has been a fixture in Berkeley’s downtown for around 20 years. One Berkeleyside tipster said the store was facing a large rent increase, but the clerk could not confirm that. Tuesday Morning, already known for its low prices, is offering a 10% discount on merchandise now. The discount will go to 20% soon, and then 30%, and maybe even higher as the closing date nears, according to the clerk. Tuesday Morning started in a rented warehouse in Texas in 1974, was incorporated by founder Lloyd Ross as an “upscale garage sale” in 1975 and has grown to 800 stores nationwide, according to the company’s website.
WINE THIEVES: SHUTTERED The Berkeley branch of Wine Thieves, at 2926 Domingo Ave. in the Claremont neighborhood, has abruptly closed. A notice on the door, spotted Tuesday, reads: “It is with deep regret and much sadness that after five years in this location our lease is up and we will not be renewing it. We have developed many great friends [and] customers and have had wonderful neighbors over these years. Thank you so much to all [of] you who have supported us.” The note then encourages patrons to visit the Wine Thieves store on Mt Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette.
CITY SPORTS CLUB: COMING SOON City Sports Club, part of the LA Fitness group, will be coming soon to the Marchant Building at 3100 San Pablo Ave., according to Darrel de Tienne, who is helping to shepherd the building through Berkeley’s building process. We’ll keep you posted on when it is nearer to opening time.
THE REC ROOM: NOW OPEN The Rec Room, a “family spot” where parents and caretakers can come with small children to eat, learn through a variety of classes and workshops, and chat, opened in September in the Lorin District (as tipped by us in March). In addition to local, organic, and nut-free food, coffee and tea, The Rec Room offers everything from free pre-school activities and child-minding, to classes on creative writing, cooking and science for elementary-aged children. The Rec Room is at 3222 Adeline St. (between Fairview and Harmon streets). Connect with the café on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
LA MARCHA /MOUNTAIN MIKE’S PIZZA In case you missed the local food biz news on last week’s Bites column, La Marcha, the brick-and-mortar location for Ñora Spanish Cuisine has opened on San Pablo Avenue, serving around 25 tapas and eight to nine paella dishes, plus desserts. La Marcha is at 2026 San Pablo Ave. (near University). And Mountain Mike’s Pizza, which has been trying since January to open on Solano Avenue in North Berkeley, won approval from the city’s Zoning Adjustments Board to move forward with its plans. It will be at 1746 Solano Ave. (at Ensenada Avenue), Berkeley. More details on Bites.
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.
