Properties
Menu
Published by Contra Costa Times
DUBLIN -- Whole Foods and Starbucks are coming to town, but each store will bring with it new twists not typically found at their regular retail outlets.
While shoppers already are thrilled about getting a Whole Foods in this area, the new store will feature amenities above and beyond what's typically offered. The upscale grocer will have what the company terms a "modern farmhouse" look with a pizza venue, tap room, wine tasting area and an outdoor patio with space for live music and performances.
"We have a Starbucks Evenings coming," Lori Taylor, Dublin's economic development director, noted. "That's the Starbucks concept that in the morning, they have their regular menu. In the evening, they have tapas and serve beer and wine."
The shops are part of the new Persimmon Place shopping center in east Dublin, which also will have Nordstrom Rack, HomeGoods and a variety of smaller places including Chipotle, Habit Burger Grill, Patxi's Pizza, Pacific Catch and Urban Plates, a Southern California chain with a farm-to-fork concept.
Stores will start opening in May with Nordstrom Rack slated to open May 7 and Whole Foods on May 20. HomeGoods should open in mid-May. Whole Foods alone will add an estimated 225 jobs to the area when that store opens.
"I would guess most of those (other tenants) are going to open in July and toward the end of the year," Doug Schaffer, a senior vice president with Regency Centers, said. "It will be staggered as to when the rest open. We'd like to have everybody open by the end of this year."
Regency Centers, which is developing Persimmon Place, has 27 grocery-anchored centers in Northern California. The newest location is on the northwest corner of Interstate 580 and Hacienda Drive, due west of the Hacienda Crossings center and Regal Cinemas.
"The nice thing about this center is it's going to have something for everyone," Taylor said. "It will be a really nice addition to our existing retail mix in our community. You could have dinner here and walk across and go see a movie. I think we'll see a lot of back-and-forth with shoppers between the two centers."
While the entire area is chock-full of retail and restaurants, Shaffer insists Persimmon Place will be a unique shopping experience. He expects it to draw customers from an extended radius.
"For anyone that's in Dublin, Livermore and out to Tracy, there's no Whole Foods," he said. "And Whole Foods is a different shopping experience than most grocery stores. The same with Nordstrom Rack. Those are great retailers to have in your shopping center."
Indeed, local residents are eagerly anticipating some of the key shops opening in the center.
"It's fantastic for me because I go to Whole Foods at least once a week to do my shopping," Pleasanton resident Kelly Errigo said.
Fans of Whole Foods' organic produce and all-natural foods must now drive a few miles north to San Ramon.
"Having an opportunity to get more organic foods and healthy food options is good for the entire community," Errigo said. "Whole Foods has a much bigger selection. (Other grocery stores) don't have the same variety of (food), and they also don't have the incredible variety of prepared foods that Whole Foods has."
Cheryl Palange is glad she no longer has to travel to San Leandro to shop at Nordstrom Rack, the slightly discounted version of the high-end Nordstrom department stores. "For me it's about value," the Pleasanton marketing professional said.
At least one Chipotle fan hopes the new location will ease the long lines at the west Dublin restaurant, currently the only Chipotle in the area.
"Chipotle is my favorite choice for fast food because of the organic meat and veggies they serve," Carol Richardson, of Pleasanton, said. "I can't eat gluten, and all of Chipotle's items are gluten-free, except the flour tortillas. It's a great fast-food option for me."
For more information about Persimmon Place, visit http://bit.ly/18rnM0M.
Click here to view this article published by the Contra Costa Times.
