City Center Opens Just in Time for Holiday Cheer

SAN RAMON, CA—Sunset Development Company’s City Center Bishop Ranch opened recently, just in time for holiday shoppers, movie-goers and visitors. City Center is a reinvention of the suburban shopping center model in which community, culture and commerce converge. In addition to the usual retail and entertainment offerings, the new regional destination will host community events and cultural celebrations.

Designed by architectural firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop in collaboration with BAR Architects, the center features 300,000 square feet of downtown retail, dining and entertainment experiences, anchored by THE LOT, a 10-screen cinema, and Equinox San Ramon, a whole-body personal fitness, training and yoga center.

The center will offer a blend of 70 stores and restaurants when all are finally open. With its open-air square reminiscent of an Italian piazza, plus dedicated outdoor areas for art exhibits, socializing, special events and performances, City Center was designed to become a gathering spot for the East Bay.

“The community response has been positive and supportive,” Jeff Dodd, senior vice president of retail for Sunset Development Company, tells GlobeSt.com. “The vision for the project is a public square which serves as a place where community happens. Already, kids are playing on the lawn in Alexander Square, adults are enjoying beer around Fieldwork Brewing’s fire pits and everyone is checking out THE LOT’s restaurant, bar, cafe and movie theaters. There is much anticipation for The Slanted Door opening and every month in 2019, more shops and restaurants will open.”

City Center’s architectural design makes it unique among other lifestyle-destination centers in the United States and perhaps the world. Architect Renzo Piano sheathed the center’s exterior with a stainless steel facade, which appears to float on transparent glass. This, coupled with the center’s broad walkways and other exterior features, creates an open atmosphere.

“The beautiful rolling hills of San Ramon served as the perfect backdrop for City Center’s design and overall feel–and the region’s residents served as the inspiration for its heart,” said Renzo Piano, the Pritzker Prize-winning Italian architect whose internationally known projects include the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, the Whitney Museum in New York City and The Shard in London, Europe’s tallest skyscraper. “Working in close partnership with Sunset Development Company, I believe we achieved our goal of creating a special place, a place that blends and nurtures community, commerce and culture.”

San Ramon mayor Bill Clarkson lauded the opening of the first phase of City Center Bishop Ranch, saying it accomplishes a major goal of the city.

“For many years, our residents have expressed a strong desire for a downtown that is both beautiful and functional, a place where they can come together to socialize, enjoy cultural events, shop, dine and simply have fun,” he said.  “By virtue of its well thought-out design, accessible location and welcoming ambience, City Center fulfills that desire in every conceivable way.”

The majority of this project is pre-leased as only approximately 90,000 square feet is still available, according to CBRE. The first merchants to open the doors at City Center are:

Athleta, the performance apparel brand designed exclusively for women and girls, owned by Gap Inc.

Alys Grace, which offers women’s designers such as Veronica Beard, Ulla Johnson, Mother Denim, Citizens of Humanity and Vince in five friendly neighborhood boutiques.

Boba Guys, serving next-level quality drinks made without artificial ingredients or powders, with the mission of bridging cultures and changing the way people see boba and tea.

Candle Delirium, which carries a large selection of luxury home fragrances.

Ella Jx Bay Area Fitwear

Fieldwork Brewing Company, a taproom and beer garden serving locally brewed craft beer.

KIN THE LABEL, an independent San Francisco-based shop selling handmade women’s, men’s and children’s hats ranging in style from classic to casual.

M by Maggie Rizer, a high fashion boutique by supermodel Maggie Rizer.

Monokrome, the first black and white concept boutique in the US curated from small business Instagram and Etsy shops with offerings for the entire family.

NEEKO, a neighborhood clothing boutique for women with a West Coast-inspired aesthetic for everyday wear.

On the EDGE, a boutique with shoes and accessories.

Pottery Barn, a specialty retailer offering a wide range of indoor and outdoor furniture, accessories and décor.

Trader, a local store offering goods and gear for the worldly adventurer.

the piece store, which offers a curated selection of women’s clothing and accessories, including offerings of shoes, belts, handbags, and casual and fine jewelry.

West Elm, a home furnishings destination.

Williams Sonoma, the retailer of cookware, cooking utensils, food products, kitchen décor and home furnishings.

In addition to the merchants now open, several stores and restaurants will welcome visitors in the coming months. Anthropologie is a lifestyle store owned by Urban Outfitters that features a signature mix of apparel, accessories, beauty and home décor. Equinox San Ramon is a whole-body personal fitness, training and yoga center. And, Heller Jewelers is a local, family-owned official Rolex jeweler.

Roam Burger and The Slanted Door are also opening soon. In a freestanding structure with four sides of glass, City Center will feature the second location of The Slanted Door, the wildly popular Vietnamese-inspired eatery owned and operated by San Francisco restaurateur Charles Phan. Phan was inspired by City Center’s modern industrial design and worked with architect Olle Lundberg to create a space on the west end of the open-air square.

“Stay tuned, because the openings are just the first wave in a steady succession of store and restaurant openings planned over the next year,” says Alex Mehran Jr., president and chief operating officer of Sunset Development Company.  “There will be many more reasons for visitors to make City Center a regular part of their itineraries.”

This is the last weekend for photos with Sidecar Santa. Photos and visits with Santa in his vintage sidecar will be offered from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Tomorrow afternoon, City Center will host Plein Air Artists in Alexander Square from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. There will be a rotating group of Bay Area artists painting in the square during that time.

During third quarter, the I-680 Corridor retail market experienced it fourth straight quarter of positive net absorption, totaling 329,826 square feet and bringing the year-to-date total to 530,576 square feet, according to a third quarter report by CBRE. While demand was spread across the market, the submarkets with the most quarterly activity included Antioch/Pittsburg (115,157 square feet) and Livermore (77,911 square feet). Shopping centers led the way with 165,740 square feet in third quarter 2018 and 300,416 square feet year-to-date.

Development remained active in the quarter, with 393,918 square feet under construction at the end of the quarter. The majority of activity took place at City Center. Additionally, the Shops at Livermore delivered 106,553 square feet, the only retail completion in third quarter 2018.