Come fall 2010, Davis students will have an even wider array of restaurant and clothing retail options to select from.
Forever 21 signed a 38,418-square-foot lease with Centro Properties Group, which manages the University Mall on Russell Boulevard. The clothing store will encompass the former Gottschalks space and the lobby outside Starbucks. Forever 21 will open in September or October.
Joy Cohan, Davis Downtown Business Association director, said despite the introduction of Forever 21 into the Davis retail market, Davis residents keep independent stores healthy by shopping there whenever possible.
“Whenever there is a newcomer on the scene, one of two things could happen: The pie slices could get smaller, or the pie could grow for everyone, because that entire retail sector grows due to the renewed focus on those goods in the local marketplace,” Cohan said.
Cohan hopes Forever 21 will enhance the market throughout Davis with added emphasis on retail, she said. Preeti Girl and Pinkadot are two notably successful retailers downtown, Cohan said.
Thai Canteen will replace the former Crepe House Uni restaurant at 117 E St. Davis Commercial Properties Real Estate Broker Michael Bisch told The Davis Enterprise Thai Canteen will be a self-serve restaurant similar to fast-food style, but with a made-to-order menu. The restaurant is set to open in September.
Thai Canteen will be Davis’ eighth Thai restaurant. Thai food is popular among students and permanent residents, Cohan said.
Sacramento-based Ethiopian eatery Queen of Sheba will move in to the former Pita Pit location at 213 E St. Queen of Sheba owner Zion Taddese said customers have been asking her to open a Davis restaurant for years. The restaurant is popular for its vegetarian and vegan lunch buffet. The full menu also includes several meat dishes, such as beef, lamb, fish and chicken.
Queen of Sheba will feature an all-you-can-eat Ethiopian style vegetarian and vegan lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Students can receive 10 percent off their total bill with a UC Davis ID card. Taddese said Queen of Sheba will open this weekend.
The wide assortment of restaurant options reflects the diversity of the population in Davis, a university town, Cohan said. The new restaurants are market driven, Cohan said.
Namaste Nepal Restaurant opened Friday, May 14, in University Mall. The Indian/Nepalese restaurant features a lunch buffet served daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Co-owner Prajwal Bajracharya alternates buffet items randomly, he said. The buffet features popular dishes including chicken tikka masala, chicken tandoori, butter chicken and several vegetarian options.
Opening specials include $2 off the lunch buffet, 20 percent off dinner checks over $15 and free delivery for orders over $20 in Davis.
Bajracharya said he strives to cater to students’ busy lives by offering a “quick combo” menu, with items served within five minutes.
Sushi Unlimited, located at 620 Covell Blvd. in Anderson Plaza, is expanding into the spot vacated by its former neighbor, Chamonix Coffee.
A new Burger King opened May 14 at 2026 Lyndell Terrace, near Sutter Davis Hospital in West Davis. The drive-thru will be open 6 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The Natural Day Spa, set to open this summer, will occupy Alphabet Moon’s former location on 235 F St.
THERESA MONGELLUZZO can be reached at city@theaggie.org.
