Walnut Creek’s shuttered Big 5 Sporting Goods building appears poised for a major transformation — into a large-format specialty wine, liquor and gifting destination.
A pending California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control application for 1630 Mt. Diablo Blvd. lists the applicant as ValueHawk Inc., doing business as SIPS. That is the same operator behind SIPS The Bottle Emporium, the Benicia retailer known for rare bourbon, additive-free tequila, wine, craft beer, cigars, barware and gift-ready bottles.
The filing strongly suggests Walnut Creek is getting a retail-focused SIPS outpost, rather than a restaurant or conventional bar.
The applicant has sought a Type 21 license, California’s off-sale general license for retail stores selling beer, wine and distilled spirits for off-premises consumption. It also applied for a Type 86 instructional tasting license, which allows limited tastings of beer, wine and spirits within a qualifying off-sale retail store…