WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – The former Walnut Creek Yacht Club location at 1555 Bonanza Street – which closed after nearly 29 years on May 7, 2025 – is set to get a new restaurant tenant.
An Alcoholic Beverage Control license application was filed in July 2025 under the name “Stillwater Inc.”, indicating plans for an on-site dining establishment with a full bar at that address.
These applications are usually a precursor to opening a new restaurant, because what’s a CA restaurant without wine?
The liquor license status is currently “Pending” (as of mid-July 2025), implying the restaurant is in development and awaiting final approvals.
Notably, the previous owners of Walnut Creek Yacht Club had hinted that “another restaurant will take up residence” at the beloved location. Stillwater Inc. appears to be that incoming venture.
Here’s where things get interesting. The owners of Stillwater Inc. are listed as members of the Abu-Ghaben (Ghaben) family – specifically Rolla Zafer Abughaben and Fadi Zafer Abughaben (along with Mustafa “Zafer” Abu-Ghaben as an officer in the corporation, per ABC records).
This family is well-known in the East Bay dining scene, with a multi-generational track record of running restaurants. In fact, the Ghaben/Abughaben family has three generations of restaurant operators who have overseen numerous East Bay eateries.
Their portfolio includes casual establishments and franchises (like Mel’s and Black Bear Diners) as well as trendy chef-driven restaurants. For example, Rolla Ghaben (one of Stillwater’s principals) is a co-owner of Lita, the Miami/Caribbean-inspired restaurant that opened in downtown Walnut Creek in 2022.
The family group also launched Batch & Brine in Lafayette in 2018 – a world-cuisine craft kitchen and cocktail bar – which is run by siblings and cousins including Rolla Ghaben.
Additionally, they have been involved in operating Broderick Roadhouse (a WC restaurant with wild west vibes that we reviewed) in Walnut Creek and even helped bring in a popular fried chicken spot, World Famous Hotboys, to the area.
In short, the Stillwater venture is backed by experienced local restaurateurs with a successful history of developing dining concepts in Walnut Creek and the East Bay.
While detailed plans for Stillwater have not been publicly released yet, the name and context give some clues. The term “Stillwater” evokes a water theme – apropos for a venue replacing a yacht-club-themed seafood restaurant – though it’s unclear if the cuisine will focus on seafood or something entirely different.
It’s also possible that Stillwater is a code name, and the new restaurant will have a different name.
Given the owners’ eclectic projects (ranging from Latin-Caribbean fusion at Lita to gourmet burgers at Batch & Brine), Stillwater could introduce a new culinary concept to downtown Walnut Creek rather than simply duplicating the former tenant. The planned offerings of beer, wine, and presumably craft cocktails suggest a full-service restaurant with a bar program.
At this point, no opening date has been announced publicly. However, the filing of the liquor license in July 2025 indicates that progress is underway. If all goes smoothly with licensing and renovations, locals can likely expect Stillwater to debut later in 2025 or in early 2026.
Given the prime location and the pedigree of the restaurateurs behind it, Stillwater is anticipated to be a noteworthy addition to Walnut Creek’s dining landscape.
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