Textile design business Ji: The Atelier is preparing to leave its location in Montclair Village, situated in the Oakland hills. The shop has operated at 6134 Medau Place for the past three years.

Owner Jigisha Darbha shared that she has "felt a pull to realign" for some time now. She confirmed that she will remain active in the community for upcoming events.

Upcoming Local Participation and Sales

Darbha plans to participate in the Taste of Montclair Village event scheduled for next week. She will also be present for the district’s Art Walk, taking place on April 25-26.

In an announcement on Instagram, Darbha reflected on the shop's success. She noted that the Montclair location grew beyond her initial expectations when she opened in 2023. She expressed gratitude for the community's embrace of the craftsmanship shared there.

As part of the closure process, many of Darbha’s creations will be offered at a significant discount. Customers can expect markdowns ranging from 20 to 40%. Ji: The Atelier will continue operations at the Medau Place address until at least April 26.

Other Montclair and Rockridge Business Updates

Another local establishment, Hula, is also winding down operations. The boutique, located at 5936 La Salle Ave., has been a fixture since 1997. Owner Andrea Faber is retiring, and the store is currently holding a closeout sale on its clothing, artwork, and merchandise.

A specific closing date for Hula has not yet been announced. Meanwhile, Foxglove, a popular clothing and jewelry shop known for its Solano Avenue presence, is relocating to Rockridge.

Foxglove's New Home in Rockridge

Foxglove has cultivated a loyal following in Berkeley due to its high-quality independent clothing and artistic atmosphere. The shop is scheduled to move into the new Jewish Community Center East Bay complex.

This new facility is being constructed at the site of the former Dreyer’s Ice Cream headquarters at 5925 College Ave. The complex will span 83,000 square feet on roughly three acres near the BART stop. The JCC East Bay’s new location will feature a mixed-use design incorporating various businesses.

Piedmont Pool Opening and Community News

In other regional news, Piedmont is set to unveil its new state-of-the-art community pool on April 11. The facility boasts a 12-lane competition pool and a separate activity pool, representing the largest project the city has ever undertaken at a cost of $35 million.

This pool is notable as one of California’s first all-electric municipal pools. It utilizes solar panels and heat pumps instead of traditional gas heating systems. The venue also includes a rooftop pavilion available for events.

Additionally, the Rockridge District Association has introduced a new community events calendar to centralize information about its numerous activities.