The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
QUESTION: What local small businesses do you go out of your way to support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic? (please, no negative comments)
Talk about it….
Diablo Foods in Lafayette and Stemple Creek Ranch in Marin County. Do my weekly grocery shopping at D Foods and order grass fed beef, lamb, and pork from Stemple Creek Ranch. Outstanding groceries/food stuffs and excellent customer service.
#1 ~ Parma’s Deli on Clayton Road.
#2 ~ Alpine Bakery on Willow Pass Road.
#3 ~ Kevin’s Noodle House at Park & Shop.
All good calls. Stick it to Antiphở!
I’m not a big consumer, so Diamond Pure Water a couple of weeks ago is all I can think of now.
Henley’s Antiques
Berkshire Books
Mins Kitchen
R&B Pool and Garden Supply
All those are great spots to visit too!
I walked through Henley’s Antiques last year, what fun! It was like a museum.
Luigis deli and Concord Feed
Camellia tea room.
Diggers diner
Hot dog palace
Brentwood farms
Diablo glass
Digger’s is amazing. It’s been too long since I’ve been there.
I have a current addiction to Hot Dog Palace. It is so not the kind of food I usually eat, but I worked there when I was 14 and the food is exactly the same, so maybe it’scomforting.
El faro
Luigis deli
Diggers diner
I love teriyaki
Caspers Hotdogs
eBay not Amazon
Strictly To Go Pizzeria on Clayton Road!
I sure wish they delivered here!
Is Ace Hardware a small business? I’m not sure since there are several of them, but I will go to Ace before I will go to Home Depot. Great staff who know a thing or two about hardware and do-it-yourself home repairs. I use Monument Auto Parts in Pacheco for car parts, they also know a thing or two.
@Dawg – Ace Hardware stores are small businesses; independently owned and operated. The WC Ace Hardware on Mt Diablo Blvd is fantastic, although parking lot can be congested. For materials for construction projects/larger home improvement projects, we use Ashby Lumber; have for more than 20 years. Mary
Wow! Is Monument Auto still around? Until a decade or two ago I went to them for all my car stuff – since the fifties.
Barney’s
Barneys used to also have a place in Antioch but the closed, leaving Concord, so I guess that makes them a small business.
Bill’s Ace Hardware, Orchard Nursery, the Chinese Kitchen (on Clayton Road) if it ever reopens.
Morucci’s – have to go all the way across town to get a sandwich from them. And worth it.
Cousins kicosk in Countrywood shopping center – I always make it a point to go there to get batteries for my watch or have my knives and tools sharpened.
C&LMusic – great place to get sheet music or get your instruments serviced.
Oak Grove Pharmacy – An old fashioned pharmacy with a pharmacist that knows you. Not as convenient as the big chains but great personal service.
Thank You for reminder,… Keep forgetting to stop by Morucci’s after shopping at Lunardi’s (once every 2 week), which is a bit out of the way for us. Morucci’s is so Good!
Any that don’t display political messages. I don’t care what the message is, I will not support a business that proselytizes.
The current two faced acronyms is a threat to my safety and livelyhood. One passive and one decidedly violent. Both with the same name. Who wouldn’t be confused.
Bamibino’s Pizza
Taqueria Los Arcos
Himalayan Cuisine
Hot Dog Palace
Luigi’s Deli
Diamond Pure Water
Diggers Diner
Alpine Bakery
Lunardis
Not often, but I love seeing people out enjoying themselves.
We go to Jade Garden every week and have continued to get takeout every week.
We just ordered a birthday cake from Alpine Bakery. Last weekend a young friend told us how much he liked the Spiderman cookie we got him on our last visit to the bakery.
Sugar Plum; Yum
Skipolini’s, Rocco’s and Walnut Creek Import Service.
Parma’s Deli in the El Monte Shopping Center
Family owned.Mary is the best! Her boys are awesome. I love that they’re very kind to our First Responders.
Alpine Bakery
Melo’s Pizza in Pleasant Hill
Great thread. Keep it going.. all our local businesses need as much support as they can get right now
We are supporting a couple of local restaurants:
El Yhualica Tacos
Ozora Sushi
Chopan Kabob
We do take out from all three weekly. Doings lots of housework so Ace as well.
Jade House in Pittsburg
EJ Phair
El Molino
Wish, gift shop in WC
Canasta Kitchen
Epidemic Ales
Hop Grenade
DeVino’s Pizza
Chef Choy
Los Panchos
We just discovered Epidemic last Saturday,…Great Place.
Use Postmates. You can support any business without actually having to go there
Henley’s Antiques, Clayton Road
Hairs The Place, Clayton
Barney’s Hickory Pit, Clayton Road
Ed’s Mudville Grill, Clayton
Groveside Bistro (NEW JUST OPENED) Clayton
just to name a few…
Also have to give a shout out to local Connor Daly Construction. Family owned, we’ve used them for over 20 years. 3 workers arrived today to start painting the exterior of the house. All wearing masks and kept social distancing when we had to speak with them. Worked their rears off power washing the house today. Moved everything away from the house, all outside furniture and my mean, narly cacti.
Couldn’t ask for anything better. Mary
Canesa’s Brooklyn Hero’s in Clayton
Lisa V’s in Concord
Triple A’s Sporting Goods in Vallejo
Cafe Oasis – Concord
Lumpy’s – PIttsburg
Concord Tap House
Fiori restaurant
Tachi restaurant
Ace hardware
Bombay Trading Co.
Skipolini’s
ACE Hardware
Bay Area-wide small businesses:
Recycle Books
The K Market
I buy everything hands-on, so a lot of “local” big and medium box stores, and bigger Bay Area chains. I try to stay away from Amazon, Whole Paycheck, and Wal-Mart.
where is recycle books? and the K market?
Recycle Books(tore– sorry!) is in San Jose and Campbell. The SanJose store is bigger and has the sweetest kitty.
The K Market is in Sunnyvale on El Camino. They’re a new, modern offshoot of Kukje Grocery in Daly City. If you love Korean cookware, Kukje is amazing. The K Market has a fabulous bakery, and their meats and fish are top quality and inexpensive.
Custom Computers offers a wide range of computer products including Laptops, Desktop Computers, Servers, Parts, Cabling & computer accessories. We offer on site or in store service. Computer trouble? We can fix it. Lost, deleted even after system recovery and on dead hard drives. Service and repair tailored to your specific needs.
Technical support is a breeze with our highly qualified technicians via Remote or telephone.
Free diagnosis without leaving your home or office.
Repair and Upgrades & Network Administration can be done here in our store or on-site at your home or office.
On-Site Service Area 100 mile radius of Concord, CA.Custom ComputersCustom Computers
Data Recovery – Virus Removal – On-Site – Network Administration
Upgrade or Downgrade your OS to suit your needs. Everything from DOS to Windows 8, and Server Edition
24 Hour Emergency Service – (925) 689-9054
China Moon – Moraga
Canyon Brewery – Moraga
Ed’s Mudville Grill – Clayton
Primo Tactical – WC
We have used Custom computers for years and these folks are great!
A 50 mile round trip to visit:
Alpine Bakery
Hot Dog Palace
Two small family owned businesses worthy of the fuel and time.
ACE HARDWARE IN Walnut Creek and Alamo
ALL THRIFT STORES
UNLIMITED HAIR CUTS IN LAFAYETTE
ORCHARD NURSERY IN LAFAYETTE
Brothers Car Wash on Monument in Concord
Windmill Farms in San Ramon
Concord Produce (across from Costco)
The Parkside Bar and Grill is now open for outdoor seating and take-out at Todos Santos Square. The menu looks great. Give them a try!
Ace Hardware on Clayton Road.
1800 cafe
Lima Restaurant
Pot Of Gold Collectibles
Black Diamond Games
Creek House Dim Sum
Casa Orinda – Orinda
Village Inn Cafe – Orinda
Petra Cafe – Orinda
La Finestra – Moraga
Bianca’s Deli – Moraga
Paxti’s Pizza – Lafayette
Millie’s Kitchen – Lafayette
Luigi’s
Digger’s
Home Made Bread – San Diego (ordering online, and sending to friends, former neighbors and former co-workers in San Diego — anonymously!).
Rocco’s, local enough. Closer than downtown concord
Is ca fish grill small enough?
Ditto on diggers
Would go out of my way for buttercup.
I forgot Alpine Pastry not bakery
Chef Choy
Rocco’s
Skipolini
Mikuni
Bay Leaf Cafe Concord
Escape from Fisherman’s Wharf. Pleasant Hill
Oops. Alpine Pastry!
Harvest House
Eric’s Computers
Ace Hardware Clayton rd.-miss the knowledgeable old man!
Los Panchos in Pacheco – we don’t even have to go inside to pick up 😉
iSlice in downtown Concord – easy online ordering, delicious Calzones and Cannoli
Aung MayLiKa – YUMMY Burmese food, excellent service and easy online ordering
The local business I’m most passionate about supporting is my Yoga Studio: RAGA YOGA
Shout out to CJ for offering a variety of Outdoor Classes!
After years of planning to open her beautiful new studio in Shadelands Sports Mall, she’s been faced with teaching in the parking lot and in the park, but always keeps a positive outlook. I always leave class feeling Uplifted. If you’ve never tried Yoga and need help keeping centered this year, try Raga! You won’t regret it.
Phoenix Games on Clayton Road.
Kind of related, does anyone know where I can purchase Caputo Pizzeria Flour “00 Blue Flour”?
Harvest house on Monument has “pizza flour”
@Pyrrhus – Diablo Foods in Lafayette has carried Pizza/00 flour in the past; don’t recall the brand, though. Their flour/baking area is fully stocked now, but I don’t know if they still carry pizza/00 flour. If you don’t normally shop there, might be worth a call to find out.
Another possibility is to contact area restaurants that make artisanal pizza, and see if you can purchase some pizza/00 flour from them. Good luck!
What’s the difference between pizza flour and bread flour?
@Anon Pizza flour or “00 flour” is milled finer, has a protein content closer to All Purpose, and isn’t malted (which basically means it doesn’t brown as quickly). This flour is appropriate for high temperature bakes (800F – 900F), specifically Neapolitan style as it doesn’t burn as quickly and keeps a more tender crust. For a indoor oven that only gets to 500F to 550F, bread flour would be appropriate for a NY style pizza as you are looking for a slightly harder/chewier crust.
I’ve personally experimented with All Purpose, Bread, and 00 pizzeria flour and the 00 is by far the winner in my outdoor oven.
La Veranda Restaurant in Clayton: I’m currently OBSESSED with their delicious arrbbirrata penne vodka sauce!
Ace Hardware on Clayton Rd in Concord. They help me find whatever I need.
Le Cuts Hair Salon in Concord near Concord high school. Trina cuts all of our hair. I hope you all with give her a try when hair salons are re-re-opened again!
Small independent businesses!
I can’t say I’ve gone out of the way but I’ve sure given Amazon a lot of business.
King’s Donuts!