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New Report Reveals the Explosive Growth of Downtown Walnut Creek
Downtown Walnut Creek has had its share of tough retail news over the last few years, from restaurant closures to rising costs and longtime local businesses saying goodbye.
But a new retail report suggests the broader story is much bigger than a few empty storefronts: Downtown Walnut Creek is growing into one of the East Bay’s strongest shopping, dining and lifestyle districts.
According to Colliers’ Spring 2026 Downtown Walnut Creek Retail Report, the district now draws about 6.6 million visitors per year, up 6.5% year over year. The report also pegs annual consumer spending downtown at $601 million, up dramatically from $346 million in 2016.
Credit: Thomas Smith That is a huge jump, and it helps explain why so many national brands, restaurant groups and experiential retailers keep circling Walnut Creek.
The report describes Downtown Walnut Creek as a premier Bay Area retail destination, with a walkable, open-air mix of national brands, local boutiques, restaurants, fitness, wellness and office activity.
Credit: Thomas Smith In plain English: people are not just coming downtown to buy one thing and leave. They are coming back repeatedly, spending more time there, and using the area more like a regional lifestyle hub.
Broadway Plaza remains a major engine of the growth. Colliers notes that repeat customers make up a major share of traffic there, especially visitors who come 30 or more times a year. Retail tenants still generate the largest share of annual visits, but food and beverage and fitness/wellness are also major traffic drivers.
Credit: Thomas Smith That’s part of why WC’s growth is so interesting. It’s driven by retail, but also other kinds of new places that act as “anchors”, bringing people back a lot.
Life Time, the 76,000-square-foot athletic club at Broadway Plaza, is highlighted in the report as a major lifestyle anchor that brings consistent daily traffic. Recent openings listed in the report include North Italia, Original Joe’s, Vuori and Rivian, while future openings include SKIMS, RH Gallery, Läderach, New Balance and Sala Mediterranean Grill.
Credit: Thomas Smith A separate Q1 2026 report from John Cumbelich & Associates also shows downtown retail fundamentals moving in the right direction. The report found that Downtown Walnut Creek’s overall retail vacancy rate dropped to 6.74% in the first quarter, down from 6.99% the previous quarter. It also reported 35,022 square feet of positive absorption, compared with 28,215 square feet of new vacancies, for 6,807 square feet of net positive absorption.
That may sound technical, but the takeaway is simple: more space was filled than emptied.
Credit: Thomas Smith The Cumbelich report also captures the bittersweet nature of the current moment. New leases included Base Hair Studio, BodyRok, Doppio Zero, Ananas Coffee Shop, Bacio di Latte Gelato and Masu Sushi. At the same time, longtime favorites Genova Delicatessen and Skipolini’s Pizza closed their downtown locations after decades in the community.
So the growth is quite encouraging but it does not mean every beloved business is safe. Downtown Walnut Creek appears to be transitioning toward higher-rent, higher-traffic, destination-oriented concepts, especially dining, fitness, wellness and premium retail. That can bring crowds and investment, but it can also make the market harder for older or smaller operators.
Credit: Thomas Smith The next big test of downtown’s momentum may come this summer, when the Downtown Walnut Creek Entertainment Zone officially debuts during the Locust Street Festival on July 8.
The new program will allow visitors 21 and older to purchase alcoholic beverages from participating businesses and enjoy them within a designated event area during approved activations. Walnut Creek Downtown says the program is designed to encourage visitors to spend more time exploring local restaurants, bars and businesses.
Put together, the numbers and openings point to a downtown that is not just recovering from the pandemic-era retail shakeup. It is being remade.
The old Walnut Creek downtown was already one of the East Bay’s best-known shopping districts. The new version looks more like a regional food, fitness, shopping and events destination.
We’ll keep following the city’s changes. Make sure to join our free 925 News newsletter so we can keep you in the loop.
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Locals Are Upset Over Plans for a Massive Data Center in Contra Costa County
A massive data center planned for CC County is drawing growing backlash from residents who say the project is too large, too industrial, and too lightly understood by the community.
The AVAIO Perseus Data Center is planned for the former Delta View Golf Course property along West Leland Road, as part of the larger Pittsburg Technology Park. The site sits near the Contra Costa Canal, in an area that city leaders have long eyed for new economic development.
But for many locals, the idea of replacing a former golf course with a large AI-era data center has become a flashpoint.
Credit: Avaio The project has already received approvals from the city and state for its first phase, according to the City of Pittsburg. Still, public anger has surged in recent weeks, with residents raising concerns about power demand, water use, noise, backup generators, traffic, transparency, and whether the facility will meaningfully benefit the people who live nearby.
At a June 15 City Council meeting, residents turned out in large numbers to speak against the project. Local reports said the meeting drew more than 100 public comments, with many speakers criticizing the city over the approval process and the project’s potential long-term impacts.
The opposition has also grown online, where a Change.org petition calling for the data center to be stopped has reportedly drawn more than 14,000 signatures.
Credit: Avaio The scale is a big part of the concern. AVAIO describes the Pittsburg campus as a 76-acre site with 99 megawatts of secured power available for its first phase and potential long-term expansion. California Energy Commission documents describe the data hub as including a three-story data center building of about 347,740 square feet, along with backup generators, a substation, a PG&E switching station, transmission lines, access roads, parking, landscaping, stormwater features, and utility connections.
Credit: Avaio The backup power system is also getting attention. According to the CEC, the backup generating facility would include 37 diesel-fired generators used to provide emergency generation for the data hub if utility power is unavailable.
City officials say the project has been thoroughly reviewed and that the first phase has been designed with safeguards. Pittsburg says the data center would be more than 400 feet from the nearest homes, would use recycled water rather than potable water for Phase I cooling needs, and would include noise mitigation and emissions controls on backup generators.
Credit: Avaio The city also says the project’s electricity will be supplied by Pittsburg Power Company, not the same PG&E system that serves nearby residents, and that the data center tenant and developer will pay for the energy and infrastructure upgrades needed for the facility.
Water is another major point of debate. The city says Phase I is expected to use about 0.058 million gallons per day of recycled water from Delta Diablo, less than 1% of Delta Diablo’s current recycled water production. For comparison, the former Delta View Golf Course used about 0.27 million gallons per day of recycled water from the same pipeline, according to the city.
The controversy comes after the Center for Biological Diversity sued Pittsburg over the project, arguing that the city had not adequately addressed greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and wildlife impacts.
Credit: Avaio That case resulted in a settlement requiring additional environmental commitments, including recycled water use, 100% renewable energy for the data center, noise-reduction measures, biological monitoring, rooftop solar, and a $750,000 fund for climate-resiliency projects benefiting disadvantaged Pittsburg communities. The group agreed not to oppose the first phase under the settlement.
The timing also matters. Nearby Oakley recently moved to halt new data center proposals while city leaders study their impacts, and other California communities have begun pushing back against similar projects over power, water, noise, and land-use concerns.
Credit: Avaio In Pittsburg, the city now says the issue will return to a future City Council meeting. On June 16, officials announced that a workshop on data center development will be placed on an upcoming regular council agenda, with 10 days of public notice before the meeting.
That means the project is approved, but the political fight around it is clearly not over.
As one of the Bay Area’s first major East County data center fights, Pittsburg’s debate could become a test case for how local cities handle the next wave of AI infrastructure — and how much say residents will have when those projects land close to home.
Elon Musk’s plan to launch data centers into space is probably looking a lot less outlandish to those involved in the challenging debate over placing them here on earth.
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Kids Make Their Own Clothes At This Unique Drop-In Art Space in the 925
In a world of “fast fashion” and items purchased on Amazon in a rush, kids’ clothes can easily get drab and generic.
A unique maker studio in San Ramon is giving kids the chance to do something a little different on their next afternoon out: design clothing they can actually wear home.
TheyMade, located at City Center Bishop Ranch, is a hands-on creative studio built around custom apparel and wearable art. Instead of painting a canvas that may or may not actually get displayed, kids can choose a base item like a hoodie, shirt, hat, denim, bag or accessory, then customize it with patches, screen printing, tie-dye, rhinestones, heat-press designs and other add-ons.
Credit: Thomas Smith Adults can do this too, of course. But TheyMade definitely focuses in on the kid audience, and seems to especially cater to tweens.
The result is part art project, part fashion studio and part kid-friendly retail experience. The studio describes its concept as a place where kids and adults can create something uniquely their own, with “no pressure” and “no rules”.
Credit: Thomas Smith Patches have empowering slogans and messages related to current music and trends.
Staff handle all the setup and cleanup. On the Bay Area Telegraph’s visits, they were very friendly and helpful.
One of the big draws for local families is that walk-ins are welcome. Visitors do not need an appointment and can stop by during open hours. The studio says most walk-in projects take at least an hour, depending on what guests are making.
Credit: Thomas Smith The space is designed for a wide range of ages, too. Again, TheyMade says there is no age limit for makers, with activities ranging from toddler-friendly tie-dye to more advanced screen printing for teens and adults. But from the Bay Area Telegraph’s visits, it does seem more teen and tween focused.
Along with drop-in visits, TheyMade offers birthday parties, camps and group events. Party options listed for the San Ramon location include themes built around hoodies, T-shirts, hats, tie-dye shoes, pants, totes and crossbody bags, with published party pricing generally ranging from the low $40s to upper $60s per maker depending on the package.
Credit: Thomas Smith Some of the items get quite pricey. A hoodie with patches could run you $80 or more. But there are less expensive options too. Sunglasses cost $20, and come with unlimited rhinestones and beads for beadazzling.
Credit: Thomas Smith In fact, TheyMade is so committed to beadazzled things that they beadazzled their own signs listing hours and other basic info!
A Beadazzled “Will Return” sign. Credit: Thomas Smith There’s even a free “bracelet bar” for kids who want to try the space out, or to occupy one sibling while the other finishes a project.
Credit: Thomas Smith The San Ramon studio is located inside City Center Bishop Ranch at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road. Current hours listed by TheyMade are Monday through Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., Friday from noon to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more great summer things to do, join our free 925 News newsletter.
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I Flew to Rural Maine, and Ate the Same Item Every Single Day
Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we’re used to an amazing quality of food.
Want corn? Brentwood, where much of America’s best corn is grown, is just a few miles away. Craving a salad? Salinas and the Central Valley grow the country’s salads, and they’re on our doorstep.
The artichoke capital of the world (Watsonville), the garlic capital of the world (Gilroy), and many other superlative-laden spots are within a short drive. So are almost all of America’s best creameries.
That means pretty much anything you eat here is going to be fresh and local. And with the passion the Bay Area has for food (and the huge amounts of money floating around here), much of our dining is fantastic.
Traveling elsewhere can be jarring, when you realize the whole world doesn’t eat that way. But it can also open up possibilities to hone in on the specific things that others regions do well–dare I say it, better than us!
I found that to be the case recently when I flew to rural Maine for a week from my home in the Bay Area.
Credit: Thomas Smith It’s no secret that Maine does lobster. Lobsters adorn the state’s license plate, and basically every restaurant in Maine serves them. Even little delis and sandwich places–not to mention gas stations–have lobster on offer.
So for my week-long trip, where I stayed on Mount Desert Island, my wife and I resolved to eat lobster every day.
And indeed, we did.
Family members insisted, “You’ll get tired of lobster in a day or two!”
We didn’t.
During the trip, we enjoyed lobster in many different places, and in many different ways. Multiple times, we visited the iconic Beal’s Lobster Pier in Southwest Harbor, Maine.
Credit: Thomas Smith Situated on a working dock, Beal’s isn’t bougie. You select a live lobster from a big tank, often brought in earlier that morning by the area’s lobstermen and women.
Credit: Thomas Smith You can also choose sides and other items. Everything gets boiled while you wait, and then you sit on picnic tables by the water and eat it.
Credit: Thomas Smith We tried their lobster roll. Soaked in butter, it was superb.
Credit: Thomas Smith On another visit, I tucked into a 3.5 pound lobster, which I finished. Also superb. Maybe more lobster than I really needed in that moment. But entirely worth the challenge.
At Bar Harbor Lobster Pound, we met a rare (and living!) blue lobster.
Credit: Thomas Smith Less than one lobster in 100 million are blue. We didn’t eat him, but we did enjoy one of his friends–this time in cold lobster roll format, coated in mayo.
Credit: Thomas Smith Ice cream served from a beached boat completed the evening.
Credit: Thomas Smith On another day, we stopped by Thurston’s Lobster Pound, one of Downeast Maine’s iconic spots.
Credit: Thomas Smith As with Beal’s, you order your lobster and accoutrements, and they boil it right there. But here you’re even closer to the water, with wooden slats in the floor open a few inches, giving you a view of the ocean below.
Credit: Thomas Smith I’ve never sat in a restaurant where you can literally see the water that yielded your dinner below your feet. The lobster here was the best simple lobster of the bunch–although not quite as big as my massive one at Beal’s.
Credit: Thomas Smith We got lobster in multiple other places and formats, making good on our resolution to eat it daily. But it was the simple, local spots that did it better than any others.
That’s the challenge, when you live in the foodie capital of the world–how do you match, or exceed, what’s on offer daily here in California?
Credit: Thomas Smith The answer, my trip showed me, is to lean into whatever is best locally. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, as the old expression goes.
And when in Maine, eat lobster. Preferably daily.
Plenty of things about the world are globalized and uniform wherever you go. Food is different. Locality and local expertise still matter.
The next time you travel somewhere outside California, don’t settle for the standardized, “could be anywhere” meal. Identify whatever your destination cooks better than anyone else. And then stuff yourself with as much of that item as your stomach and budget can allow.
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T&T’s First California Supermarket Opens Thursday at San Jose’s Westgate Center
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – T&T Supermarket is scheduled to open its first California store Thursday, June 18, at Westgate Center in San Jose, with opening celebrations set for 8:00 a.m. and doors scheduled to open at 9:00 a.m.
The new store is at Westgate Center, Suite #501, 1600 Saratoga Ave., San Jose, CA 95129, near the Saratoga Avenue and Prospect Road intersection in West San Jose.
For Silicon Valley shoppers, the opening brings a large new Asian grocery, bakery and prepared-foods destination to one of San Jose’s busiest west-side shopping centers. T&T says the San Jose store is its first California location and the first of multiple planned locations in the state.
The company says the market will stock groceries across Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian and other Asian cuisines. Announced offerings include fresh produce, specialty goods, in-store bakery items, ready-to-eat meals and prepared foods.
T&T is also using the San Jose opening to launch more California service through its online operation. The company says Express Delivery, in-store pickup and mail delivery for California customers are scheduled to begin June 18.
Credit: T&T Westgate Center’s own directory lists T&T Supermarket at 1600 Saratoga Ave. and describes the chain as offering fresh produce, meat, seafood and specialty items from Asian cuisines, along with kitchenware, gifts, in-store kitchens and a bakery selection.
The San Jose store is part of a broader Bay Area push by the Canada-based grocer. T&T says future Bay Area locations include San Francisco and Millbrae.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Bay Area pipeline includes sites at City Center on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco and Friendship Plaza in Millbrae, with both expected in winter 2026. That report described the San Jose market as the first of three Bay Area stores announced by the company.
T&T says it is Canada’s largest Asian supermarket chain, with more than 39 stores across Canada and the United States. The company was founded in Vancouver in 1993 and is now led by CEO Tina Lee, according to the company’s announcement.
Shoppers at a different T&T store. Credit: T&T In the announcement, Lee called San Jose a long-anticipated store and said the company wants to connect Asian families with the foods and traditions they grew up with while also serving customers discovering Asian foods.
The opening adds another national and international Asian grocery brand to a South Bay retail market that already includes a wide range of Asian supermarkets, specialty grocers, bakeries and prepared-food counters. For West San Jose, the most immediate change is at Westgate Center, where T&T is positioning the store as a grocery stop as well as a place to buy meals, bakery goods and specialty products.
T&T has been promoting membership signups through its app ahead of the opening. The company said California customers who signed up by June 15 could participate in a prize promotion, and it also held Santana Row pop-ups on June 6-7 and June 13-14 for signups, snacks, games and giveaways.
For opening day, the key public schedule remains simple: celebrations are set to start at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, June 18, and the store is scheduled to open at 9:00 a.m. at Westgate Center.
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Third Saturday on Main Keeps Placerville Shops, Galleries and Music Going Late
PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA – Placerville’s Historic Main Street is giving visitors another reason to linger downtown after the usual daytime shopping rush.
Third Saturday on Main returns Saturday, June 20, bringing an evening mix of late-night shopping, art, music, specials and small-town strolling to downtown Placerville. The monthly event runs from 3 to 8 p.m. along Main Street, with galleries and merchants staying open late for visitors.
The event is organized by Placerville Merchants on Main, which describes it as a monthly chance to explore Historic Main Street after hours. The lineup typically includes artist demonstrations, live music, a scavenger hunt, special promotions, wine and drink specials, and other activities hosted by downtown businesses.
It is the kind of event that fits Placerville’s historic downtown especially well. Main Street is already known for its Gold Rush-era feel, local shops, restaurants, galleries and walkable storefronts. Third Saturday on Main turns that setting into a more social evening, encouraging visitors to browse galleries, stop into shops, catch music, grab dinner or drinks, and spend a few hours downtown rather than making a quick daytime stop.
The next event is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, followed by additional Third Saturday dates on July 18, August 15, October 17, November 21 and December 19. The July 18 date will also overlap with Placerville Art & Wine, a separate event featuring wine tasting from more than 10 El Dorado County wineries inside Main Street stores and galleries from 4 to 7 p.m.
For visitors, the appeal is partly the variety. A Third Saturday trip can mean checking out local art, shopping for gifts, stopping by a boutique, trying a restaurant, or just walking the historic downtown while the street is livelier than usual. Wine, cider and beer tasting are also available on select Third Saturdays, according to the merchant group.
The event is also part of a broader push to keep downtown Placerville active through local events. Placerville Merchants on Main says its mission is to support a vibrant, visible downtown through membership, community engagement and unique events. Visit El Dorado notes that the downtown merchant association hosts a wide range of Historic Main Street events, including monthly art walks, Golden History Days and Oktoberfest.
Third Saturday has also become part of the city’s arts identity. Placerville’s Public Art Master Plan points to the Third Saturday Art Walk as one of the programs bringing people downtown for gallery exhibits, food and wine, with local galleries featuring work ranging from photography and paintings to sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media and digital art.
For anyone looking for a low-key summer evening trip, Third Saturday on Main offers a simple formula: historic storefronts, local art, live music, food, drinks and shops that stay open late.
Third Saturday on Main takes place Saturday, June 20, from 3 to 8 p.m. on Main Street in Placerville.
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Moraga’s Beloved Fine Dining Restaurant Has Sadly Closed
La Finestra Ristorante, the longtime Italian and Sicilian restaurant at 1419 Moraga Way in Moraga, has closed after years of serving Lamorinda diners.
Thanks to reader Neil S for letting us k now.
The restaurant’s final day of operation was Sunday, June 14, according to a note posted by chef-owner Jeff Assadi. In the message, Assadi said the decision came after rising costs made it difficult to continue operating the restaurant.
“After many wonderful years of serving the Lamorinda community, it is with a heavy heart that I announce that La Finestra Ristorante is closed,” Assadi wrote.
He cited the increasing costs of labor, food, utilities, licenses, insurance and other business expenses as the reason for the closure.
The restaurant was known for Sicilian-influenced Italian dishes, white-tablecloth meals, private celebrations and the kind of neighborhood hospitality that really stood out in Moraga.
There aren’t too many fine dining spots in that part of Lamorinda. La Finestra set the tone.
Credit: La Finestra Its menu included dishes such as malfatti della nonna, penne alla Norma, lasagne alla Bolognese, gnocchi ai funghi, risotto alla pescatora, petrale sole piccata, tiramisu and cannoli. The restaurant also offered a private banquet room for celebrations and catering platters for larger gatherings.
La Finestra’s story in Lamorinda stretched back well before its Moraga location. Assadi opened his first restaurant in Lafayette in 2003, according to the restaurant’s website. After La Finestra was destroyed in the 2017 Lafayette Circle fire, Assadi worked to bring the restaurant back, eventually reopening in the Moraga Shopping Center in 2018.
At the time, Assadi told Lamorinda Weekly he was happy to be part of the Moraga community and wanted to continue serving longtime customers and employees.
In his closing note, Assadi thanked guests for their loyalty and for making the restaurant a special place.
“Many of you became more than customers – you became friends and part of the La Finestra family,” he wrote. “It has been an honor and a privilege to cook for you, celebrate your special occasions, and create lasting memories together.”
He added that he was proud of what the restaurant had built and grateful for the support shown over the years.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives,” Assadi wrote.
The closure is another sad loss for Lamorinda’s dining scene, especially for Moraga residents who looked to La Finestra as one of the town’s special-occasion restaurants.
La Finestra Ristorante was located at 1419 Moraga Way in Moraga.
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A Brand New Vietnamese Restaurant Just Opened in Walnut Creek
A new Vietnamese restaurant has arrived in Walnut Creek, bringing pho, banh mi, rice plates, vermicelli bowls and more to one of the city’s busiest shopping centers.
J’s Phở & Cafe is now open at 2317 Oak Grove Road, inside The Orchards at Walnut Creek. The new restaurant is located in the Shadelands area, near the major Oak Grove Road and Ygnacio Valley Road corridor.
We’ve been following that space (see the photo above from before the buildout of J’s) expecting a new restaurant would come in. Now, it’s here!
The restaurant describes itself as an authentic Vietnamese dining spot built around traditional flavors, carefully selected ingredients and modern presentation. Its menu focuses on familiar Vietnamese favorites, with pho as one of the main draws.
Credit: J Pho and Cafe According to the restaurant’s website and online ordering listings, diners can expect a broad menu that includes pho noodle soup, rice plates, house specials, sizzling pot dishes, vegetarian options, vermicelli, banh mi sandwiches, Vietnamese coffee, teas, smoothies and desserts.
Visit Shadelands describes J’s Phở & Cafe as a place inspired by Vietnamese culinary traditions, with pho made from slow-cooked broth, rice noodles, herbs and proteins including beef, pork, shrimp or chicken.
The opening gives Walnut Creek another Vietnamese option at a shopping center that already functions as a major food and retail hub for the Shadelands and Northgate-area neighborhoods. The Orchards includes a mix of restaurants, cafes, fitness tenants and everyday retail, and sits along one of the city’s most heavily traveled intersections.
Tanoshi, one of our favorite lunch spots, is right across the street.
The restaurant appears to have opened after a spring buildout and grand opening period. Social media posts from late March described J’s Phở & Cafe as coming soon to The Orchards, while early April posts showed the restaurant in its grand opening phase.
J’s Phở & Cafe is located at 2317 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek. The restaurant lists its phone number as (925) 369-3339. Their website is: https://www.jphocafe.com/
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Walnut Creek’s Popular “Entertainment Zone” Moves Ahead, With Cocktail Strolls on the Horizon
Walnut Creek’s downtown social scene is getting a new tool this summer: a city-approved entertainment zone that will let adults buy alcoholic drinks from participating businesses and carry them through a clearly marked event area during selected downtown events.
That’s right–cocktail strolls are right on the horizon, WC!
The new Downtown Walnut Creek Entertainment Zone is scheduled to debut July 8 during the Locust Street Festival, with a second activation planned Aug. 5. Walnut Creek Downtown says those two Locust Street Festival dates are currently the only entertainment-zone activations planned for 2026.
In other words, this is not a permanent open-container free-for-all. The program is tied to permitted events, official cups, participating businesses, boundaries, and city and state rules.
Under the plan, visitors 21 and over will be able to purchase drinks from approved downtown restaurants, bars, wineries and breweries, then enjoy them outdoors within the event footprint. Drinks must stay inside the designated zone and be served in official Entertainment Zone cups.
The zone covers the core of downtown Walnut Creek, generally along Locust Street and North Main Street between Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Civic Drive, and along Bonanza and Cypress streets between North California Boulevard and North Broadway.
Part of the new Entertainment Zone. Credit: Thomas Smith Walnut Creek Downtown, which will manage the program, described it as a way to create a “more engaging and connected downtown experience” while encouraging visitors to explore restaurants, bars and neighboring businesses during events. The association said the first activations will be part of the Locust Street Festival, which brings live music, local food and beverages, artisan vendors, shopping, and family-friendly activities downtown.
Credit: Walnut Creek Downtown The move follows a city process launched under Senate Bill 969, a state law that lets California cities and counties create entertainment zones where alcoholic beverages may be consumed on public streets, sidewalks and rights-of-way under local rules.
It harkens back to the pandemic era, when such things were legal–or at least tolerated. Expect this time, there’s more of a permanent framework around the idea of walking around town with a drink.
The entertainment-zone launch comes as Walnut Creek is leaning further into downtown as a regional dining and entertainment draw. A draft economic development plan headed to the City Council on June 16 described downtown Walnut Creek as a regional gathering place with more than 120 restaurants, many retailers, bars, arts events and festivals. The plan also said downtown attracted 20 million visitors in 2025.
Before the entertainment zone’s July debut, downtown will host another similar event: Walnut Creek Uncorked on Thursday, June 18, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. That event is a separate 21-and-over sip-and-stroll with check-in at Rudney Plaza at the Lesher Center or Verde Gourmet, a wristband, tasting glass, map and access to more than 30 tasting locations with wine, beer, spirits and small bites.
For restaurants and bars, the entertainment zone could make major street events more valuable by allowing participating brick-and-mortar businesses to be part of the outdoor beverage experience. For visitors, it means a more festival-like downtown experience — but only during approved activations and inside the marked boundaries.
The first test arrives July 8. After that, Walnut Creek will get another look at how the new entertainment-zone model works during the Aug. 5 Locust Street Festival.
We shared this story early on when it was in the works, and we’ll continue to follow it. Make sure to join our free 925 News newsletter so we can keep you updated.
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El Dorado County Fair Opens Thursday With A Ticket Deadline, Free Admission Windows And Four Days Of Rides
PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA – The El Dorado County Fair opens Thursday, June 18, at the El Dorado County Fair & Event Center, 100 Placerville Drive in Placerville, for a four-day run through Sunday, June 21.
This year’s fair theme is Good Ol’ Fashioned Fun, according to Visit El Dorado, with the official schedule built around carnival rides, junior livestock events, contests, pageants, music, exhibits and grandstand entertainment.
Fair hours are noon to midnight Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday. Carnival hours are noon to midnight Thursday through Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Readers planning ahead have until Wednesday, June 17, to buy pre-sale admission. Pre-sale general admission for ages 13 and older is $11.39, while junior admission for ages 7-12 and senior admission for ages 60 and older are $9.11.
Once the fair begins, daily admission increases to $14.80 for general admission and $12.53 for junior or senior admission. Children 6 and under are admitted free.
Parking is listed at $10 cash per car, with limited spaces available while they last. Active-duty military attendees receive free admission with active-duty military ID.
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Opening day is also Kids’ Day and Seniors’ Day. Children 12 and under and adults 60 and older can enter free until 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Credit: El Dorado County Fair The Thursday schedule starts just before the gates open, with an 11:50 a.m. opening celebration at the Placerville Drive Gate. The first day also includes free train rides from noon to 6 p.m., a 2 p.m. funnel cake eating contest, a 4 p.m. bubble gum blowing contest, the Miss El Dorado Pageant at 5:30 p.m. and the El Dorado Rose Pageant at 7 p.m.
Thursday entertainment listed on the fair schedule includes roaming performers, Clown College on the Main Lawn, racing pigs, Circus Imagination and live music on several stages through the evening. Exhibit building hours Thursday are noon to 9 p.m., with the carnival running until midnight.
Friday, June 19, is Teen Day, with free admission until 4 p.m. for ages 13-19. The Pee Wee Rodeo is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Henningsen Arena, with Mutton Bustin’ following.
The Friday night grandstand event is the Truck & Tractor Pulls, scheduled for 6 p.m. An additional ticket is required; pre-sale grandstand admission is $11.39 through Wednesday, then rises to $17.08 during the fair.
Saturday, June 20, starts earlier, with fair gates open at 10 a.m. The Junior Livestock Auction is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Auction Show Ring, with buyer registration from 8 to 10 a.m.
The John M. Studebaker Wheelbarrow Races are scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday in the grandstands and are included with fair admission. The Saturday daily schedule also lists free train rides from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., a 6 p.m. hay bucking contest and music into the night.
Sunday closes the fair with gates open from noon to 10 p.m. The Experience the Rubicon Challenge is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the grandstand and is included with fair admission, according to the fair ticket page.
Sunday’s daily schedule also lists free train rides from noon to 6 p.m., a 2:30 p.m. El Dorado County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit meet-and-greet and bite demonstration, a 3 p.m. family look-alike contest and multiple live music sets through the afternoon and evening.
Fair organizers note that times and stages are subject to change, so attendees should check the official daily schedules before heading to the fairgrounds.
More info and tickets are here: https://edcfair.org/fair/
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