BRENTWOOD -- When the Streets of Brentwood opened in late 2008, it quickly became known for its diverse mix of upscale retail, but there was something missing: dining options for shoppers at the 60-acre center.
That didn"t last long. The outdoor mall off the Highway 4 bypass now features everything from casual lunch options and family restaurants to ethnic eateries and fine dining establishments.
The addition of two restaurants in coming months is expected to draw more traffic from neighboring communities and turn the mall into a dining destination.?
BJ"s Restaurant and Brewhouse plans to open its doors during the first week of October, and the owner of the Lone Tree Way eatery, Shirasoni Japanese Restaurant, will introduce a new seafood restaurant called The Wishing Crab on Aug. 9.
BJ"s is constructing an 8,400-square-foot building and will employ 220 people. Alex Greenwood, Brentwood"s economic development and planning manager, expects it to generate $5 million to $6 million in revenue annually, translating into $50,000 in sales tax revenue each year for the city.
"They are a powerhouse," Greenwood said of BJ"s. "More people from a regional base will come here to eat there."
Greenwood said BJ"s will become an anchor tenant in the shopping center along with REI, Rave Motion Pictures and DSW Shoes. The restaurant and brewery specializes in pizza, pasta, steaks, salads and sandwiches.
BJ"s officials declined to comment on the future opening and would only say that the project is moving along quickly. The nearest BJ"s is at Sunvalley mall in Concord.
BJ"s, which is at the main entry to the Streets of Brentwood, also is constructing a parking lot expected to alleviate the limited parking for REI, which is in an adjacent location along the perimeter of the center.
In addition to the added parking, REI assistant manager Matthew Griffiths said the retailer is excited about the exposure that BJ"s will bring to the center by drawing large evening and weekend crowds, especially with its planned opening around the holiday shopping season.
"What it does is it creates a better mix of businesses in the center," he said. "(The center) was more focused on apparel and a general mall atmosphere in the beginning. The brewery element of BJ"s adds to that entertainment factor."
The Wishing Crab also is expected to bring something unique to the center. Owner Stan Le, of Brentwood, said it will serve a variety of seafood, including crab, lobster, crawfish, shrimp, clams and seafood fondue.
"We have been blessed with a lot of people supporting us," he said of the popularity of Shirasoni, which has been open for about 2½ years. "The Wishing Crab is still family, food and fun like Shirasoni, but with more emphasis on seafood and more interaction between diners."
Many of the menu"s recipes come from Le"s family and feature distinctive Asian flavors and spices. Crab will be served in a variety of ways, including Cajun, garlic butter roasted, boiled with butter and salted with peppercorns.
"You can make different types of food with the crab," Le said. "It is a delicacy in Asia because the meat itself is sweet, and you can eat crab as an entree."
Patrons of The Wishing Crab will be able to write their wishes during their visit, and they will be displayed in the restaurant, including on a wishing board at the back of the restaurant.
Since The Streets opened, Le has been hoping to open a restaurant there and was waiting for the right opportunity. His restaurant will be situated in the space between Rubio"s Fresh Mexican Grill and Grazie.
"I prefer to have a lot of restaurants in one location because the customer can pick and choose," he said. "That is one of the reasons that we like the Streets of Brentwood."
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