Businesses Eager To Fill Void Left By Bryan's

The steaks at the Victorian Farms stand certainly look good, but what's really eye-catching is the empty space right behind the meats.

Bryan's Fine Foods was a staple at the Town Center in Corte Madera for a long time. The butcher shop and deli that sold dry-aged beef, fresh fish, chicken and other goods is gone now, but there are several other vendors willing to fill the space.

Bryan's has closed up shop and will continue to sell its gourmet wares online, and it will maintain a warehouse in San Rafael.

"A year and a half ago, I started to focus more of my time on the Internet," said Katie Flannery of Bryan's move. "We got a reputation for having some of the best meat in the country. The wine forums were a big boost for us. Robert Parker gave us rave reviews. ... At about that same time, the in-store sales started to fall down and the web took off."

With Bryan's at the Town Center, the Wednesday farmers market wasn't allowed to include vendors selling fresh cheese, fish, or meat. A case of too many chefs in the kitchen? Perhaps. For better or worse, the departure of Bryan's has opened up some new opportunities.

"The mall asked us to please bring in meat and fish, so we have," said Lynn Bagley, who represents the farmers market, which takes over the Town Center every Wednesday, noon-5 p.m.

Victorian Farmstead from Sebastopol joined the weekly farmers market on Feb. 8, along with a Half Moon Bay fishmonger and Achadinha Goat Cheese Company from Petaluma.

"I think it's great for them to join the farmers market. It's important for people to be able to distinguish between the quality of food. People can get good food there," Flannery said.

The storefront is empty for now, but not for long. A trio of local restaurateurs is expected to open Blue Barn Restaurant in the space this summer. Sam Josi and Stryker Scales, both of Kentfield, and Berkely's Nate Valentine formed Sustainable Restaurant Group.

“We’re very excited to welcome this restaurant team to Town Center and think Blue Barn Gourmet will be a great addition to our selection of restaurants,” said Stan Hoffman, General Manager of the Town Center. “The three men are Bay Area natives and really understand what Marin residents like and expect. We believe that given their successful track record in opening good restaurants in San Francisco, our Marin customers will appreciate their focus on offering fresh, seasonal and organic ingredients and for the rustic, casual ambience they create.”

Blue Barn Gourmet, which opened on Chestnut Street in San Francisco in 2007, will feature local, organic and seasonal ingredients, a majority of which comes from Sonoma’s Oak Hill Farm, in made-to-order salads and sandwiches, as well as specialty grilled cheese sandwiches.

 “Born and raised in Kentfield, Marin, we have witnessed firsthand the tremendous evolution of the Town Center and feel that it is the best and most comfortable fit to carry through with our plans,” said Josi. “With fresh, local produce from our family-owned farm in Sonoma, Oak Hill Farm, we can offer a true farm to table experience at our new location at Town Center. And, a move there will take us back to our roots and to the community we know and love so well.”