New store: Urban Refind, a shop of “electric and vintage treasures” has opened for business at 17503 Sonoma Highway in the Springs. The store is having its official open house on Friday, Aug. 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Owners Leszlie Boutell and Simon Purshouse, of Boyes Hot Springs, also own Good Riddance Hauling. Store hours are Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. urbanrefind.com
New antique store: Over the Moon Antiques, owned by Debra Mark and Diane Millar, has opened in Kenwood, selling antiques, collectibles, small furniture, home décor and other specialty items. Over the Moon Antiques is open Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 9255 Sonoma Highway, next to Lion Heart Yoga.
Best hotel: Olea Hotel in Glen Ellen has been named the 2016 “Best Wine County Hotel/Resort” by Sunset magazine. The hotel is owned by Sia and Ashish Patel. The hotel also added three new rooms at the end of July. sunset.com/travelawards
New resort in the works: Almost two years after the site changed hands, the proposed new large-scale Sonoma Country Inn has now submitted plans to the county’s permit office for design review. China’s Tohigh Investment is the owner of the 186-acre resort property on a hillside off of Sonoma Highway on Campagna Lane near Lawndale Road. The hotel plan includes 50 guest rooms spread across 19 cottages, a restaurant, pool and 102 parking spaces.
Winery/creamery: Not far down the road, the Belden Barns winery and cheesemaking facility project between Glen Ellen and Kenwood is facing pushback from neighbors over its expansion plans. The company is seeking permission to tear down some existing buildings and build a production facility, retail sales space, event space, a tasting room and employee housing totaling 15,851 square feet on 55 acres. The property is located at 5561 Sonoma Mountain Road.
Construction update: A recent North Bay ranking of the biggest local constructions projects puts Sonoma’s Fetters housing project on Highway 12 at #11 with a total value of $18 million for the 60-unit complex, and the Kenwood Vineyards expansion at #21 with a value of $10 million. The complete list is at northbaybusinessjournal.com.
Another tasting room in GE? For sale in Glen Ellen is a newly constructed 2,628-square-foot house downtown at 901 Roberston Road that has commercial zoning which allows for it to operate as a tasting room. The listing price is $2,395,000. The broker is Gerry Snedaker of Mason McDuffie in Sonoma.
Job Fair: The Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) will be sponsoring a Job Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 9, outdoors on the lawn of Oak Lodge. Part time, full time and intermittent positions are available.
Job openings: The Chamber of Commerce has an active help-wanted board with current positions at Sweetwater Spectrum, Crush Beauty Bar, Sonoma Market and more. For more details on these positions or to post an opening, visit the jobs board somomachamber.org
Real estate news: Beautiful Nails will be moving from 539 Broadway down to 645 Broadway as soon as they can find someone to take over their current space near Top That Yogurt… A.V. Brands, associated with Artessa Winery, has leased office space at 635 Broadway, adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce… The building that houses Rabo Bank, Terra Firma Global Partners and Edwards Jones, at 10 Maple Street (at 635 and 651 First St. W.) is for sale for $7,250,000… The retail/office/warehouse buildings that house Rodolph Inc. at 999 and 989 W. Spain St. and 19404 Sonoma Highway are currently for sale for $3,395,000.
New hires: Cline Family Cellars has hired Tom Gendall as its new assistant winemaker. Gendall comes to Cline from Sojourn Cellars, where he aided in the day-to-day operations of the cellar and planned out the future of the vineyards and wines. He originally hails from New Zealand where he graduated with a degree in Viticulture and Oenology.
Andrew Meyer has been named vice president of the West Region and national lead for Don & Sons’ three new, soon-to-be-released craft tequilas, U Gottabee Nutz line and sparkling water products in development.
Stompers sponsors: The Stompers have welcomed new and returning sponsors this year including Krave (and its Krave Club along third base); Virginia Dare Winery (with its Wero Woco Moco Club between third base and home); Bonneau Gas Station and of, course, the fall Fox-TV series, “Pitch.” The ballpark itself is now officially called the Peoples Home Equity Ballpark at Arnold Field.
City Party: Kudos to Redwood Credit Union for stepping up for its sixth year in a row sponsoring the Sonoma City Party on July 28.
Connecting Women: Polka Dot Powerhouse is a new connections and networking group for women who want to connect to form friendships and do business together. Women who are interested can join the next monthly lunch meeting as a guest at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18 at Taste of the Himalayas. Lunch is $20.
[Source: -Sonoma Index]
