News round-up

Celebrity chef Tyler Florence will open a cookware store in the old Banana Republic store in Mill Valley. For an idea of what to expect take a look at Tyler's website and blog. I predict lots of very large pictures of the eponymous chef to feature in the shop's decor.

Sees Candies is to open a permanent store at Vintage Oaks in Novato.

The Sharper Image has filed for bankruptcy and intends to shutter 90 stores. It's not known if the outlet at the Village at Corte Madera will be one of the closures. Gonna miss them massage chairs.

The Marin Independent Journal reports that downtown Larkspur is to get a face lift, including new trees and improved sidewalks.

Also from the IJ, watch out for dirty foot spas next time you visit a nail salon.

Yet another new grocer is opening a store in Novato. Following the opening of Trader Joe's last year and the construction of new full size Safeway and Whole Foods markets, Berkeley-based Grocery Outlet is set to refurbish and occupy the vacant 25,680 sq.ft Bell market unit at the Nave Shopping Centre on South Novato Boulevard.
Grocery Outlet is a surplus or salvage market, which means it picks up surplus supplies from food manufacturers and is able to sell them at discount prices.