Independent Business Churn, Grocery Access & New Openings

San Jose’s Bollinger Road Safeway is scheduled to close Nov. 13 and Pleasanton’s 99 Ranch Dec. 5. Menlo Park’s 98-year-old Cook’s Seafood closed, affecting roughly 45 employees across Menlo Park and Pleasanton; Livermore’s Fosters Freeze will close Nov. 15 after 33 years under the same family ownership. Berkeley’s Oh G Burger-to-Smish Smash changeover, El Charro’s stated reopening plan, and a downtown San Jose Portuguese egg-tart bakery’s planned move of most pastry operations to Adega are also notable. Braid Bakery and Salt & Straw are reported to open Nov. 13, followed by Sweetgreen Nov. 17 and World Market Nov. 20.