North Bay Business Journal

People: Week of Aug. 15, 2011

Technology Autodesk announced that Tamra Muir, senior director of Americas Distribution and Alliances, has been recognized by Everything Channel’s CRN Magazine as one of 2011’s “Power 100 Women of the Channel.” It is the second time Muir has been included on CRN’s annual list, which honors female executives exemplifying success within the IT channel and have reached [...]

Perfect Fitness to pay $425,000 to settle product-defect allegations

SAUSALITO — The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced Perfect Fitness has agreed to pay a $425,000 civil penalty relating to a defect in a prior version of its Perfect Pullup exercise device.

Largest paintball, laser tag and airsoft center to open in Santa Rosa

SANTA ROSA — Billed as the largest indoor paintball, laser tag and airsoft center west of the Mississippi River, the new Playland is scheduled to have a soft opening the week of Aug. 5 at 170 Todd Road, pending final approvals from the county.

Zobha women’s activewear maker acquired

MILL VALLEY — Fashion apparel conglomerate Kellwood of St. Louis acquired Mill Valley-based yoga and fitness wear maker Zobha.

Athleta plans to nearly double HQ size

PETALUMA — Women’s activewear retailer Athleta, a division of San Francisco-based apparel giant Gap Inc., plans to nearly double the size of its 200-employee headquarters office in Petaluma this fall as the brand’s brick-and-mortar retail initiative picks up the pace.

Atlanta private-equity firm acquires Il Fornaio

CORTE MADERA — Il Fornaio (America) Corp., which owns the Corner Bakery Cafe and Il Fornaio Restaurants and Bakeries chains, has been acquired by affiliates of Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm.

Dharma Trading Co. to move order-fulfillment to Petaluma

SAN RAFAEL — Dharma Trading Co., which has been selling supplies for decorating yarn and fabrics since the late 1960s, plans to relocate its growing mail-order and e-commerce business under one larger Petaluma roof this year.

Lydia’s Organics to expand in Petaluma

PETALUMA — A Fairfax-based organic and raw foods maker and kitchen is moving much of its operations to northern Petaluma as part of an expansion of production and to open up a larger café and holistic center.

Santa Rosa Wednesday Night Market cancelled due to rain

SANTA ROSA — The downtown Santa Rosa Wednesday Night Market will be canceled today because organizers don’t foresee rain letting up by the time the market opens this evening.

Healdsburg Lumber expands Marin County showroom

SAN RAFAEL — Just more than a year after Healdsburg Lumber Co. acquired glazing and door retailer The Window Warehouse in Corte Madera, the Marin County business has undergone a major operational overhaul in the past several months.

New study tallies economic impacts of proposed Target in San Rafael

SAN RAFAEL — A community impact study released today on a planned 137,000-square-foot Target found that in the next four years the store would generate 164 net new jobs, a 3.6 percent net increase in retail sales and a net boost of $646,000 a year in city revenue, yet grocery and drug store sales would slip 2.9 percent because of the competition.

Advent office furniture dealer in merger with AAA

SANTA ROSA — Advent, the largest office furniture dealer in the North Bay, merged with AAA Business Supplies & Interiors of San Francisco.

Restaurant Zócalos opens in Adobe Center

PETALUMA — A significant North Bay commercial real estate owner, developer and property manager, RNM Properties, announced the opening of Zócalos Latin Grill at the popular Adobe Creek Center. The new 3,900- square-foot full-service restaurant opened its doors last month.

Napa downtown: Bring the great restaurants and retail will follow

For years, many said that if we brought great restaurants to downtown Napa, retail would follow. Retail has arrived.

Marin County retail: Shopping center tenants upgrade, backfill vacancies

There will be a continued upgrading of tenancies and back-filling of vacancies at shopping centers throughout the county. First-tier shopping centers are posting rental rate growth and will continue to do so throughout the year. Second-tier centers will remain flat or experience limited rental growth and third-tier centers will continue to face downward pressure on rents.

SBA approves 504 loans for refinancing commercial real estate

For the first time, the U.S. Small Business Administration is allowing for the temporary extension of the 504 loan program to allow refinancing of existing commercial real estate debt.

Commentary: Time to tell Solano’s story

Four years of Solano County’s economic development studies has shown that we are not what other people think we are.

Many in the Bay Area and Sacramento see Solano as a pass through agricultural open space area devoted to suburban sprawl growth patterns with lower-income job opportunities. They wrongly believe that Solano is either on the Bay Area fringe or the in between rest stop when traveling between San Francisco and Sacramento.

Sports Authority to open high-end sportswear store in Marin

CORTE MADERA — Sporting goods retailer Sports Authority plans to open one of its first new high-end activewear stores, called S.A. Elite, this spring in Town Center Corte Madera.

Hi Fi consolidates operations in San Rafael

SAN RAFAEL — Hi Fidelity Entertainment, a marketer of licensed merchandise for Carlos Santana and dozens of other musical artists, consolidated its headquarters offices and East Bay e-commerce business to a new location at the junction of Highway 101 and Interstate 580.

Good Earth plans to expand in 2011 move

FAIRFAX — Good Earth Natural & Organic Foods today announced plans to relocate next fall to a larger space in a former Albertsons store in Fairfax.