John and Elena Duggan, owners of San Francisco’s Original Joe’s, decided to open their first East Bay restaurant in Walnut Creek’s Broadway Plaza, not in a trendy neighborhood like Oakland or Berkeley. When they saw a large corner space across from Macy’s, they felt it was the perfect spot for their Italian-American restaurant. John Duggan explained that Walnut Creek is centrally located in the East Bay, and Broadway Plaza is a popular hub with many visitors.
The Duggans plan to open the new location in April, joining a wave of new restaurants at Broadway Plaza, which attracts around 6 million visitors a year. While some old restaurants like P.F. Chang’s have closed, new ones like Cholita Linda and Palmetto Superfoods have opened, adding variety to the area’s dining options. Broadway Plaza has also attracted places like Pinstripes, which offers bocce, bowling, and pizza, adding entertainment to the mix.
In the past, Broadway Plaza wasn’t known for its food scene, but after a tough period with retail thefts and street closures during the pandemic, it’s now seeing a boost. Foot traffic has increased, and the mall is doing better than before. In fact, Broadway Plaza’s popularity has attracted businesses like Palmetto Superfoods, which specializes in acai bowls and smoothies. Their new store in Walnut Creek has already become the most profitable of their six locations.
The location is ideal for Palmetto because it’s near popular gyms like SoulCycle and Life Time. The area also has several athleisure stores, which fits well with their healthy, post-workout food options. Palmetto co-founder Hessam Shirmohammadi mentioned that the area’s mix of gyms and family-friendly businesses is a perfect match for their brand.
Other new businesses in the area include Sipeos Cafe and Bar, which offers Mediterranean vegetarian food and low-alcohol drinks. This unique concept, which opened in November, caters to the growing trend of wellness and alcohol-free options. Sipeos took time to convince the mall’s owners to accept their idea, but they finally got approval after a lengthy process.
Overall, Broadway Plaza is becoming a hot spot for new restaurants and shops, with businesses eager to tap into the area’s growing popularity.