by Norma Black, President, Crockett Chamber of Commerce and Rosemary Liden
Crockett a Bay Area hidden hamlet of 3,574 residents, more endearingly referred to as Sugartown, is home to the C&H sugar refinery and was founded by Italian and Portuguese immigrants.
C&H at one time employed most of the town’s residents. Crockett’s topography is similar to small villages in Italy and Greece. Boasting some of the most affordable commercial rents in the East Bay Area, Crockett is having a renaissance of businesses which 11 out of 15 retail stores are currently operated by women owners.
Miriam Cox, owner of Revival Coffee, moved here from the Pacific Northwest where coffee houses are practically on every corner. Miriam has a unique take on her coffee business. She serves out of a small travel trailer that is adjacent to a cozy and welcoming outdoor seating area with a bohemian community vibe. It is one of Crockett’s great meeting places. Miriam creates her own syrups, sauces and handcrafted coffee drinks to satisfy all your cravings.
Up on Second Avenue around the corner, Laura Esterling with her brother Matt, co-own Toot’s Tavern. Known as one of the oldest dive bars in Contra Costa County, you will be welcomed by a stuffed grizzly bear and a curious moose head on the wall while listening to live music jams during the week and weekends.
Crockett has two bars for tasty cocktails and brews, both co-owned by women, Christina Joan Nicora and her family own Club Tac, established in 1923 and is a hub for locals to gather after work and chat about their day. They serve up a killer Smashburger and great pub food. On weekends, you can find outstanding music with local and well-known talent.
Across the street you will find Funky Frog Gift Shop owned by Teresa Molinar. Teresa’s gifts include handmade crocheted clothing and accessories, along with a classic and trendy hand-crafted jewelry collection. A perfect place for gifts for children and adults alike.
Next door is Sugar City Pet Store, owned by Lisa Robinson. Lisa designs and sews dog and cat collars in a variety of shapes and sizes. Her store is home to beautiful exotic birds, parrots and cockateels that are quite chatty. On a sunny day you might be able to catch Lisa outside with one of her gorgeous birds perched on her shoulder.
At 720 Second Avenue, two sisters, Samantha Bartlett and Jessie Ammons-Casswell, co-own the Cat Vintage & Antique Store. Their collections are some of the most unique vintage and retro treasures in the area. A perfect spot for that “hard to find” gift for someone. This store is truly the cat’s meow.
Flowers Fresco, owner Mariko DiBiase, surrounds herself and the town with the sweet scent of a variety of beautiful flowers. For the holiday season, Mariko hosts Wednesday night workshops on flower arranging and floral gifts for the holidays. Mariko’s second location is called The Jungalo, which is also on Second Avenue. It features indoor and outdoor plants, Macramé designs and gifts.
Subie Brown of Passionate Feast shares the space with Flowers Fresco. Subie is an avid collector of dinnerware, glassware and used books from the vintage era. Her collection of vintage jewelry is magical. A visit to Passionate Feast will certainly bring you back to that special place and time.
Julia D’Alo, new to the Crockett scene owns Cose Belle Boutique, a soon-to-be favorite fashion stop. Julia’s future plans include Brackish Men’s Shoppe & Barber along with “The Sicilian” Restaurant on Second Ave. at Wanda Street. We hear she will be offering secret family recipes from Mama Rosa, the original Sicilian Chef. More to come.
Rosemary is located across from the Historical C&H factory, owned by Rosemary Liden, and hosts seasonal pop-ups and events, offering eclectic clothing, jewelry, and unique gifts, including her personal concierge services.
Be sure to visit these Crockett businesses during the holidays. We are expecting a fabulous holiday season. Make a day of it, shop and enjoy some of the best food stops around. Congratulations to all of our women-owned entrepreneurs!