Retail churn: closures, reopenings & resilience stories
Key Questions
Which notable retail closures occurred recently in the Bay Area?
Closures include PetSmart SF, Lucky California in Danville, Clove & Hoof in Oakland, Held Over vintage in Haight, Plank Oakland, Saluhall SF, Amy's Drive-Thru in Rohnert Park, and Barnes & Noble in Redwood City after 33 years.
What caused the Silver Creek Community Market closure?
The San Jose grocery store is closing after its building was acquired by private equity firm Blackstone, resulting in 61 layoffs.
What positive reopenings or expansions are happening?
New or returning spots include Oasis nightclub reopening, The Wild Fox cafe, Reem's as a worker-owned co-op, Millennium, Bar Skula, and multiple new concepts like Goop Kitchen and Parachute Bakery.
What happened to Rooky Ricardo's record store?
Beloved owner Dick Vivian passed away at age 78, leaving the store's future uncertain.
Which long-standing business was saved from eviction?
Tommaso's, North Beach's oldest restaurant, was saved from eviction through donor support.
What new retail openings are planned for 2026?
Hauser & Wirth gallery opens in Palo Alto in 2026 with a bookshop, Stemple Creek Ranch opens a meat store in Petaluma, and Sakura Market held its grand opening in San Jose.
Where is Tender Heart Thrift planning a new location?
Tender Heart Thrift is preparing a storefront at 683 O’Farrell Street in the Tenderloin through the Vacant Storefronts program.
What new restaurant opened in San Ramon?
Oke Poke, a cult-favorite Oakland bakery's sister concept, soft-launched at 188 Market Place with plans for a grand opening on August 1.
Notable closures: The North Face Berkeley (silent, no warning), Buffalo Whole Food Castro (51 years), Bottom of the Hill, Wood Tavern, Silver Creek Community Market, Once Upon a Slush, Lucky on Fulton in NoPa (mid-September). Reopenings: Reem's worker-owned, Millennium, Bar Skula. Resilience: Tommaso's saved by donors. Trends: 'long goodbye bump', Yemeni coffee boom, Vacant to Vibrant effectiveness, broken rice trend (Broken Dreams, Cơm Tấm Bros). Jollibee grand opening as a positive downtown recovery milestone. Randy's Donuts opens in Santa Clara across from Stan's Donut Shop — chain vs. local showdown. Mensho, Michelin-ranked ramen, opens in Walnut Creek. New East Bay openings: Broken Dreams, Angela's Eatery, Cơm Tấm Bros, Kat's Kitchen, Olive Tree Market, Rico Rico Taco. Lalala Cafe opens in Newark. New: Grocery Outlet opening next week in North Beach, filling Safeway void — affordable grocery option with Trader Joe's across the street. Lucky on Fulton closure adds to SF grocery crisis, with supervisors scrambling to find replacement. New: Cava, fast-casual Mediterranean chain, confirmed first Bay Area location at Santana Row in San Jose — signals continued suburban retail expansion. New: Bay Blend Café preparing Oakland opening — locally owned, handcrafted espresso, coming soon on Market Street corridor.