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What New Businesses Are Coming to Alameda?

Several new businesses are almost ready to open their doors.

Like Linus waiting for the Great Pumpkin to appear on Halloween night, Alamedans have been scanning store fronts, looking for signs that new businesses are ready to open.

Here are several new businesses in the pipeline that Patch has tracked:

Sugarbabies, a lingerie store located in the renovated Park Street Plaza mini-mall, is putting the finishing touches on renovations. It will open in early November.

Originally scheduled to open in August, Levy’s Bagels will open in the West End's Webster Square Shopping Center in mid-November. Owner Sam Kuav explained that the delay was due to changes needed to obtain the City of Alameda’s building permit. Until the Alameda store opens, Alamedans hankering for a bite of Levy’s dense, chewy bagels will have to drive to the Levy’s in San Ramon.

The new Park Café, which will occupy the old Boniere Bakery location on Park Street, will open in early November according to owner Betty Gee. (Gee, the owner of Pier 29,had dubbed her new venture Betty’s Café but has since changed the name to Park Café.) Getting the health permit and final architectural review took longer than expected and pushed the opening back from September.

According to Gee, the menu at Park Café will focus on comfort food items  such as mac and cheese, fresh roasted turkey and rice plates. “We will offer home-style cooking at reasonable prices,” said Gee.  

Finally, the Acapulco will be resurrected in early 2013 according to new owner Mike Wiesner who took over the Alameda institution from the Quintero family. Wiesner is in the process of getting permits to upgrade the plumbing and electrical systems inside the restaurant which has served Alamedans since 1953. Wiesner says he will expand the menu to include seafood dishes but will offer many of the dishes using the Quintero family recipes.

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Mickey Neill October 29, 2012 at 11:28 am
I see commonality in the delays of opening each of these businesses. It looks like the City is the stumbling block in each case. We have been drooling for the return of Acapulco. Please no more delays.
510gal October 29, 2012 at 11:31 am
love hearing about new businesses opening! I've said this before but I'll say it again, how about a Korean restaurant in the Harbor Bay Landing center? Or any other restaurants and businesses there, for that matter......
Tom Brody October 29, 2012 at 12:06 pm
I agree with the above comment, requesting a Korean restaurant. When the urge for bi bim bap materializes, we currently have little choice but to drive to the far east end of Broadway in Oakland, where there is an excellent Korean restaurant.
hobnob October 29, 2012 at 02:29 pm
I love Korean food, there use to be a korean restaurant in what is now Angor Grill, they closed down b/c I think they just didn't have enough business. I don't have high hopes for any other korean restaurant after the failure of that first one. I ate there a lot of times, the food was good, so sad for it to have closed down.
TQ October 29, 2012 at 02:36 pm
The City of Alameda does not make it easy for new businesses to open up. Bravo for hanging in there. It will be worth it. Love hearing about new businesses opening up.
michelle daniels October 29, 2012 at 03:19 pm
Given that on Yelp.com, Pier 29 has approximately 2.5 stars I am shocked they would even try to open a place on Park Street. I hope the food and service improves. I ate at Pier 29 once when it moved and frankly it was disgusting!!! I would not eat there again no matter where they are.
Melissa T. October 29, 2012 at 04:55 pm
Yes, we too are looking forward to Acapulco. My question is that if we are waiting for plumbing/electrical "upgrades" (read code violation fixes), what was going on there before it closed??? Who was responsible for making sure it was clean and safe and why didn't they do it when it was still open?
Jon Spangler October 29, 2012 at 05:38 pm
Not all delays in the opening of local businesses are the fault of City of Alameda staff.
The short-handed City of Alameda staffers only have 32 hours/week (or less) to try to do 40 hours' worth of work, and the number of planners and other permit processing staff has been severely reduced in recent years. Many permit applicants fail to submit complete applications and some contractors fail to meet city standards when inspections occur, too: applicant errors only slow down the approval process.
NQuintero October 29, 2012 at 05:38 pm
Hello Patch readers...I am a granddaughter of Rose and Modesto Quintero and I would like to clear the air. The new owner of Acapulco says he is going to be using our recipies, but we have not given him permission nor have we provided them to him. I don't want anyone to think that you will be getting the same food we served. Thank you for all the years of support and the drooling desire to have us back.
Laurel Yeates October 29, 2012 at 08:15 pm
What's with PV Square, the old Chrysler spot at Buena Vista and Park? I assume "PV" is Park Vista?
Wayne Ashcraft October 29, 2012 at 08:28 pm
One of my elderly tenants just loved Acapulco before it closed.
she says she went there regularly over a period of 30 years! Now that's loyalty!
Debbie October 29, 2012 at 10:34 pm
I went to Dan's Produce recently and they are continuing to make additional changes to their wonderful offerings. They are now in the process of adding a fresh fish area....Can't wait. If you haven't been to Dan's Product lately, I highly recommend it. I love their current display of fall produce...and its delicious too.
HappyAlamedan October 30, 2012 at 04:02 am
I have heard a brewery will be one of the tenants at PV Square, which could be fun. Cheesy sign, I am hoping for some interesting new businesses. Something to complement my favorite place in Alameda, The Marketplace!! :)
Carol Parker October 30, 2012 at 09:23 am
Funny you should mention about the sign because driving by yesterday I thought the same thing. Such a very lovely building, and such a very ordinary sign. it didn't seem to fit, to me. Plus - what does PV stand for? Maybe no sign would be a better option. It detracts from the nice architecture. I like how that building compliments the Marketplace across the street. Let's see if the CVS architecture can blend into the neighborhood as well....
hobnob October 30, 2012 at 02:09 pm
That's taking forever, my husband went to the seafood guy (forgot his name!) that was at the market on Chestnut and Encinal. He closed down shop a year ago and said he's opening up shop at Dan's. 1 year later, still no seafood guy.
alameda vigilante October 30, 2012 at 04:07 pm
Hey, Patch editor: What Srta Quintero said is Important! If the new Acapulco owner is going to misrepresent his food when the restaurant re-opens, I wouldn't want to eat there. How about some follow-up?
SAinCR October 30, 2012 at 04:24 pm
Restaurants cost a fortune to fabricate and even more to run. It is one of the most difficult businesses to make profitable. I a not a restauranteur just a grateful consumer. Maybe if you can get a few thousand signatures from Bay Farm residents saying they want a Korean Restaurant it might demonstrate a need. Remember these places need to be able to fill their tables every day all day to make a living and cover expenses.
Analisa Harangozo (Editor) October 30, 2012 at 06:20 pm
It's still in the early stages prior to opening but yes, we will check up on this.
Susan Zielinski October 30, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Dear Quintero family,
Please share some of your most-asked-for recipes with the new owner! We loved your Acapulco restaurant, and are eagerly awaiting the new version/opening. It would be wonderful to allow the new owner to honor your family's heritage by featuring some of your "best of".
Jenna November 29, 2012 at 08:56 pm
Maybe I have a dirty mind, but when I see PV it looks like PIV which is how babies are made. Maybe they could make it into a love hotel like in Japan. Now there is a new idea for Alameda. Family quality time and all that. Bonding you know.
joel January 5, 2013 at 02:30 am
easy open a can of bean pour in a pan , add some spice , add some overcooked chicken meat , add some overcoocked rice, sprinkle with cheese and celantro , when the times are good add avocados and tomatoes , when they are lean use the 2lbs frozen bag .....serve very large portion and you are in business.

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JSanders June 17, 2013 at 11:55 am
When they build that high density development on the Harbor Bay Club site with 25% low incomeRead More housing requirement, Bay Farm will be hearing a lot more gun shots at night.
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So sad to see. Did you report this to East Bay Regional Park District? I provided the number in yourRead More last posting.
Lorraine Sarullo June 12, 2013 at 12:35 pm
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Carol Parker June 12, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Anonymous tip to the fire department?
quietneeded June 12, 2013 at 04:17 pm
Leaving a note to them is a bad idea if it really is a illegal operation. So many ways that can goRead More wrong. Just call the police dept. Leave a tip. Simple and safe.
Analisa Harangozo (Editor) June 13, 2013 at 09:03 am
Agree with Carol. Perhaps an anonymous tip to Alameda Fire or Alameda Police.
Alex Gronke (Editor) June 11, 2013 at 07:35 am
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Given the targeted harvesting of parts, this is not a "times are hard and food is scarce"Read More issue. It's greedy, ignorant, and yes it's disgusting and disrespectful to nature. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2012/01/17/manta-rays-endangered-by-sudden-demand-from-chinese-medicine/
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Lorraine Sarullo June 11, 2013 at 11:18 pm
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