UP IN SMOKE Last April, Nosh reported that Texas-style BBQ and beer garden Smoke Berkeley on San Pablo Avenue became in hazard of ultimate. At the time, proprietor Tina Ferguson-Riffe stated she changed into looking for a brand new spot after the belongings owners stated they’d be demolishing the eating place, which she runs with her son Sean Hagler, to construct a new power-via vehicle wash. Smoke could keep on at the space for more than a yr, but Ferguson-Riffe told Nosh that she had recently given a July 31 move-out date.
Originally, the property owners requested Smoke Berkeley to depart after its lease ends on June 30. However, Ferguson-Riffe became granted an extension through July, the eating place’s busiest month, particularly right around July 4. Ferguson-Riffe remains seeking out a new space and is retaining onto wish that the restaurant can continue to be in Berkeley. Stay tuned on Nosh for greater updates. Smoke Berkeley, 2434 San Pablo Ave. (close to Channing), Berkeley
THAT’S A WRAP FOR FISH FACE Fish Face Poke Bar at Public Market Emeryville has closed. The Sacramento-based totally restaurant from chef-owner Billy Ngo (who also owns Kru Contemporary Japanese Cuisine) focuses on traditional Hawaiian-fashion poke. The Emeryville place opened in October 2017, was Fish Face’s third region, it’s first outside of Sacramento. Its 2nd Sacramento vicinity at Carmichael’s Milagro Centre closed in January, and in line with Public Market owner City Center Realty Partners, the Emeryville outpost accompanied fit on May 31.
City Center Realty Partners changed into indistinct about why the enterprise left, however, provided this announcement: “There’s constantly a ramification of motives for anybody enterprise’s fulfillment or failure, that can consist of the entirety from product services to operations. We are presently exploring a pair of various principles for that area.” We reached out to Fish Face Poke Bar for comment. However, we had now not heard a response at the time of publication.
TROUBLE AT THE REPUBLIC Berkeley vegan forte store Animal Place’s Vegan Republic asks its lovers for assistance. According to an Instagram submit posted a remaining week, the shop has visible a drop in commercial enterprise and believes the “massive popularity” of veganism is partly responsible. In the post, Vegan Republic writes, “Chain shops are pulling away customers with their newfound openness in carrying vegan merchandise, and it’s a blessing and a curse.” First opened as the Republic of V in February 2014, it was the primary grocery store within the Bay Area to offer completely vegan merchandise.
About a year after opening, its founders Joe Haptas and Noelle Callahan bought the store to Grass Valley nonprofit sanctuary Animal Place. Since then, one hundred% of profits from the store has long passed to Animal Place, which provides a domestic for unnoticed cattle. Whether or no longer you agree that veganism as a fashion is behind Vegan Republic’s gradual commercial enterprise, locals can also want to come out to help the store, mainly for the reason that any other Berkeley vegan fixture, Sanctuary Bistro, is remaining quickly. Animal Place’s Vegan Republic, 1624 University Ave. (between California and Jefferson), Berkeley
MORE PIZZA TO COME AFTER PIZZA The restaurant space remaining running as Pizzahhh in Northside (at 2503 Hearst Ave.) will reopen as a brand new pizza spot step with its former proprietor, Dick Reimann, who additionally owns Berkeley warm canine organization, Top Dog. For extra than 40 years, the region turned into a Top Dog, but in 2013, Reimann decided to attempt providing New York-fashion slices and pies.
Last 12 months, the enterprise closed and was taken over by using a new proprietor, Lobsang Dorjee. Nosh has not acquired a remark from Dorjee. However, if all is going as deliberate, Reimann said the new commercial enterprise may even serve pizza and could boast a Cheese Board veteran on the kitchen’s helm. Nosh will proportion extra updates as we get them.
