The Woodlands Mall is fully open after more than 15 months of various COVID-19 restrictions and mall officials have been busy, adding three new restaurants and several new retail stores.

Ted Harris, the senior general manager of The Woodlands Mall, said several new restaurants and retail stores are now open, have seen work begin or are in the process of final stages of construction at the mall.

We are open fully right now. All of our shops are open. There are still a few locations that have their own mask protocols, so just contact the store so you are not surprised, Harris said.

Among the new offerings are salad and veggie specialists Salata Salad Bar; Casper mattress store; a new Mediterranean-focused eatery, Tableyah Mediterranean Cuisine; golf store Travis Mathew; and teen girl and young adult women store, Miss A. A new Bigotes Street Tacos is also on tap.

A couple places that have opened are Casper, the mattress company, that is sitting across from Athleta. We also opened up about a month ago Travis Mathew, that is a mens golfing and athletic wear. Casper primarily used to be an internet mattress company and now theyre coming into the mall, to show (customers) what the mattresses can do, how they perform.

The newest thing is on the ring road, next to Torchys Tacos, is Salata, it recently opened up. And, in our food court, Bigotes Street Tacos should be opening sometime (in July), Harris said. They just started constructions on Tableyah Mediterranean. Two (new eateries) in the food court and one on the ring road.

Harris said the mall is trying to cater to the needs of shoppers, in The Woodlands, and he noted the staff is excited to be back to work and busy after months of pandemic disruptions.

Not only is the (mall) staff in good spirits about getting back to normal, but when I am talking to retailers, with a lot of the restrictions being removed, they are very happy to be moving back to normalcy, Harris added.

On HoustonChronicle.com: The Woodlands Mall adds courtyard, new amenities and stores

Another new store is called Miss A, which Harris described as a clothing, jewelry and make-up store for teen to young adult girls and women, is under construction and may be open in the fall, Harris noted.

The changes are among many that have been underway at the mall since 2019, including in spring 2020 the renovation of the new courtyard near the Barnes and Noble Bookstore that has lawn seating, grass and a large screen with a projector for films.

Also added last year were a new Shake Shack restaurant and multiple new stores inside the malls main shell including a JD Sports, which sells athletic shoes, as well as an Amazon 4-Star store and a new dessert joint, Creamistry.

jeff.forward@chron.com

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New eateries, stores on tap at The Woodlands Mall - Houston Chronicle

About two years ago, Gregorys Coffee decided to venture out of the city to open suburban locations. At that point, the small Manhattan-based chains shops were mostly among office buildings whose caffeine-craving business professionals were the bulk of the customers.

Opening its first Long Island coffee shops this year in Deer Park and Melville was eye opening, Gregorys Coffee founder Greg Zamfotis said.

Not only are sales at the Long Island stores 25% higher than projected but also the Melville shop is the bestselling of the chains 33 shops, due in part to many New York City customers who have not returned to working in their offices because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

"I think, on Long Island, people live and work there. And theres a much more robust residential community," said Zamfotis, who is in lease negotiations to open four more Gregorys Coffee shops on Long Island within the next 18 months.

Long Islands high taxes and rent are barriers to entry for many businesses, but its demographics high-income consumers willing to spend money at restaurants are boding well these days for both coffee shops and casual chicken restaurants, both of which are springing up in high numbers in the area, real estate and restaurant experts said.

"But typically, when retailers come into the market, their sales are very strong. So, theyre able to justify the higher rent and higher taxes," said Russel Helbling, a principal at Sabre Real Estate Advisors in Garden City who is the exclusive broker for Starbucks and PDQ chicken restaurants on Long Island.

Starbucks, Dunkin', Brownstones Coffee, Southdown Coffee, Druthers Coffee, PDQ, Chick-fil-A, Mad for Chicken and Hot Chicken Mama are among the chains that have opened new Long Island locations in the last year and/or plan to open new local spots by the end of 2021 that will number in the dozens.

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"Another chain starting to look in the market is Raising Canes [Chicken Fingers] from Louisiana and Id expect to see Zaxbys enter the market as well," said Steve Gillman, a partner in the White Plains office of an Atlanta-based real estate firm, The Shopping Center Group, who is the exclusive representative for Chick-fil-A on Long Island.

Here is a sampling of new coffee and chicken spots slated for Long Island:

Brownstones Coffee: The restaurant chain has four locations all on Long Island and soon will sign a lease to open a fifth eatery, in Commack, by the end of this year, said Christina Walberg, director of location development for the Amityville-based company. She declined to disclose the address.

Brownstones serves "all-day" breakfast, lunch and specialty coffees from 7:30 a.m. to closing time 3 p.m. Sundays and 3:30 p.m. all other days.

Seeking to put more focus on coffee, Brownstones has signed a lease to open Brownstones Coffee Roasting Co. at 55 Merrick Rd. in Amityville, beside its existing restaurant in the Amity Mall shopping center, in the next four months, Walberg said.

The new store will have an in-house roaster doing small-batch roasting of coffee beans to sell to other restaurants, and it will sell brewed coffee and roasted beans to retail customers, she said.

"We wanted to have more control over the coffee roasting, be able to create a blend that is special to our concept, and also to help other restaurants improve their offering of coffee, too," she said.

Brownstones has outgrown the 2,400-square-foot space its West Islip restaurant occupies, so that location will relocate to a space double the size, at 425 Union Blvd., before Thanksgiving, she said.

Chick-fil-A: The top-selling chicken chain in the country entered the Long Island market in 2015 with an eatery in Port Jefferson Station.

The Atlanta-based chain of more than 2,500 restaurants in North America now has seven Long Island locations, including one that opened in Smithtown in March, and it is planning more local eateries.

A Chick-fil-A under construction at 249-33 Rockaway Blvd., Rosedale, within the town of Hempstead, is expected to open in the first quarter of 2022, Gillman said.

The chicken chain also is awaiting town building approvals for two other planned Long Island eateries at 805 West Montauk Hwy. in West Babylon and 124 East Jericho Turnpike in Huntington, he said.

Gillman said there are other planned Chick-fil-A locations under lease negotiations on Long Island that he could not disclose.

Chick-fil-A did not respond to requests for comment.

PDQ: The fast-casual chicken chain, which has about 60 restaurants, opened its first New York restaurant, in Farmingdale, in July 2019. The Tampa, Florida-based company plans to open another Long Island restaurant, on Old Country Road in Westbury Plaza.

PDQ did not respond to a request for comment.

Starbucks: The worlds largest coffee chain, with nearly 33,000 stores globally, has been expanding aggressively on Long Island, where it has 91 stores. The Seattle-based chain plans at least seven more in the area, according to Helbling or town officials.

Starbucks has three new Long Island stores under construction at an apartment building at 199 2nd St. in Mineola, at 201 Sunrise Hwy. in Bellmore and at 305 West Jericho Tpke. in Huntington, Helbling said. Also, the chain will soon break ground on a free-standing store at 159 W. Main St. in Patchogue, he said.

In addition, town representatives on Long Island said building-related applications are awaiting approvals for three proposed Starbucks stores at 2799 Rte. 112 in Medford (Brookhaven), 1675B Sunrise Hwy. in Bay Shore (Islip) and 90 Montauk Hwy. in Sayville (Islip).

Starbucks did not respond to requests for comment.

Top 5 Coffee Chains by U.S. Sales in 2020

Starbucks $18.5 billion

Dunkin $8.8 billion

Dutch Bros Coffee $584 million

Tim Hortons $511 million

Peets Coffee $269 million

Top 5 Chicken Chains by U.S. Sales in 2020

Chick-fil-A $13.7 billion

KFC $4.7 billion

Popeyes $4.6 billion

Zaxbys $2 billion

Wingstop $1.8 billion

Source: Technomic

Tory N. Parrish covers retail and small business for Newsday. She has worked at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Observer-Dispatch in Utica, N.Y.

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Wings and lattes: Chicken spots and coffee chains booming on LI - Newsday

Business to be located at site of old Crossroads; no timeline set as construction materials are in short supplyIt would appear that Paul and Darlene Hood have enough to keep them busy. As owners of Hoods Service Center, Inc. on I-44 near Bois DArc, they run the Cenex convenience store, a Phillips 66 gas station, a restaurant and a motel. On top of that, they also own two other corporations: Hoods Oil Company, Inc., and Hoods Propane Company. However, the Hoods plan to expand their operation even further by building a new convenience store at the intersection of Highways 39 and 96, at the site of the old Crossroads convenience store outside of Miller.Darlene Hood said they chose to start the new enterprise for several reasons.It fits in with what we do, she said. Weve always thought it was a very good location. Theres a lot of traffic on Highway 96, (and) theres no place to buy fuel between Halltown and Carthage, if youre staying on 96. We (also) have a farm six miles from there, so we know the area very well. We just saw that the need was there, and it was the logical move for us because we (also) own the adjoining property.Hood said their new venture will supply many things travelers on Highway 96 need.(We will sell) gasoline, diesel, and we will also have off-road diesel, she said. It will be a convenience store. Weve had a lot of demand for a restaurant, (but) we do not plan to have a full-service sit-down restaurant, mainly because it is very difficult to staff it, with the one we already have. And we hope it will get better and think it will, but it is very difficult.Additional plans include a deli where fresh sandwiches will be made, and walk-in coolers where customers will be able to serve themselves.Dont expect to see the new convenience store anytime soon, though. Hood said the building wont be completed for quite some time.It wont be soon, she said. Right now, were just preparing the land. Theres leveling that has to be done, and theres a lot of preparation before you can start to build.There are also other factors delaying construction.It would be wonderful if we could (start right away), Hood said, but it just doesnt work that way, and its very difficult right now even to get materials. There will be all new piping, new dispensers; everything will be new. Were not using any of the existing equipment. And right now, a lot of things are backordered. That works against us, too.However, Hood said, many people are happy to know they will bring a new convenience store to the area.Its been unbelievable, the positive feedback weve had, she said. People would love to have a restaurant, but theyre very glad to see a C-store go in where you can buy fuel and the other things you sell. We have been really surprised at the warm feelings that have been expressed towards us. They obviously know about this place and know that we should know what were doing.

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New Hood's convenience store in the works on Highway 96 - Lawrencecountyrecord

The new Vandalia restaurant will employ between 90 and 100 people. We are labor-intensive, Potts said earlier this year. Customers order at a counter, but our employees bring the food to your table. In the drive-through, we will often run food out to the cars.

Mark Myers, the operating partner for the new restaurant, recently completed 12 weeks of training at the home office of Culvers franchising operations in Sauk City, Wisconsin, and will be assisting a new Culvers opening next month in Florida before returning to Ohio to launch the Vandalia restaurant, Potts said.

We look forward to the challenges and rewards of opening this third Dayton-area location, Potts said.

Culvers Dayton-area expansion may not stop with Vandalia. Potts said earlier this year that he has looked at sites in Kettering and near Wright State University for possible expansion and has talked with potential franchise partners to add more Dayton-area locations.

Culvers was founded in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin by co-founder Craig Culver and his family. All but six Culvers restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees.

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LOCAL RESTAURANT NEWS: Culvers confirms purchase of former Ruby Tuesday, to start construction this spring - Dayton Daily News

Beach and boating season is still far off, but Huntington Town is taking advantage of the quiet time to make improvements at its maritime facilities.

Upgrades are planned at two of the towns three marinas Halesite and Mill Dam and new facilities and updated equipment are proposed at town beaches.

Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci said the ideas were generated by Maritime Services director Dom Spada, Senior Harbormaster Fred Uvena, the maritime community and beachgoers.

"This year a lot more people were out at our beaches," Lupinacci said of 2020. "Theyve always been the center of attraction but more importantly now during the pandemic."

Officials last year took delivery of new pump-out and response boats and installed a new playground at Fleets Cove Beach. Construction of new wood docks at Hobart Beach boat ramp has begun and is expected to be completed by the spring.

Construction of transient docks, which provide parking for boats coming into Huntington for the day, are high on the list, Lupinacci said. Town officials said the Harbormasters Office takes calls all summer from boaters asking where they can dock.

"Were looking into the possibility of installing a transient dock at the town dock by Prime [restaurant] and construction of a transient dock behind the Halesite fire department," he said.

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New facilities are also being proposed at a park named for one of Long Islands favorite sons.

"Were installing a pier and floating dock assembly at Billy Joel Park for transient boat dockage," Lupinacci said of the park in Cold Spring Harbor.

The town's engineering department is currently working on design plans. Town officials said costs could be around $275,000, but will have a better idea after the project goes out to bid.

The construction of the floating dock assemblies will be built in-house by town maritime employees at an estimated cost of $80,000.

The boating community wont be the only ones to have something to look forward to.

"Were replacing out-of-date playground equipment at Gold Star Battalion and Centerport beaches and adding apparatus to Crescent Beach," Lupinacci said.

Here is what's on tap for town marinas:

The Town Board recently approved a contract with D&B Engineers and Architects for a new steel bulkhead design and the reconstruction of Halesite Marina Park. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2021 with an estimated cost of $1.5 million to $2 million.

This marina remains closed. The town in 2020 sued the contractors hired in 2011 to design and reconstruct the marina. The towns suit alleges the work done by the contractors was so shoddy that it created dangerous, unsafe and hazardous conditions, and has cost the town money. Town officials are citing breach of contract, negligence and misrepresentation of expertise, failures in calculations and design, among other deficiencies.

Deborah Morris is a native Long Islander and covers the town of Huntington.

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Huntington marinas, beaches to get improvements in off-season - Newsday

Christian Silvestri, whose Rabia's on Salem Street got a warning from the Boston Licensing Board last week about unmasked servers and too many people at tables, celebrated New Year's Eve at a Naples, FL cigar bar - where he set aside some time to yell about Florida freedom:

"You can't do this in Boston, baby!" he yelled. "Woo!"

"Whadaya have to say about it?!? Woo! Today's toast, Charlie Baker, Marty Walsh, listen to DeSantis, this is what he's got going baby!" And then, referring either to Cuba or Massachusetts, it wasn't clear, he yelled, "Freedom! We're not in a communist country!"

In another video from the dance floor, he yelled: "You can't do this back in the Northeast, you can't do this in Boston! You can't do this in Boston! Remember back in the day when you used to be able to do this in Boston? Get the fuck outta heah!"

Still, for Silvestri, those were pretty tame comments. For months now, Silvestri has been posting obscenity-packed video diatribes about Baker and, to a lesser extent Walsh, on his Facebook page, sometimes enough to earn him Facebook timeouts. Simply, he doesn't believe all the Covid-19 numbers and thinks Massachusetts politicians are intentionally out to destroy small businesses and the families who run them through their Covid-19 restrictions.

After Baker announced some Covid-19 rollbacks on Dec. 22, as numbers and hospitalizations surged, Silvestri complained about what he sees as the unfairness of squeezing gyms and restaurants while letting Home Depot, Target and other large stores stay open.

Well, well, well, here we are another week another rollback down to fuckin' stage 2 fuckin' step 2 go stick em up your sister's ass 2, 3, 4, who gives a fuck about stages nowadays?

He told Baker and Walsh, or as he called them, "pieces of shit," to go on unemployment to see what it's like and warned them they won't always be "Superman" and one day they'll be walking down the street and the people they forced to close their businesses and lose their homes would spot them and, well, he didn't say what would happen.

On Dec. 8, he complained about "the pussies" running Massachusetts and other blue states:

We all know that these governors in these fuckin' blue states are outta their minds! They got no fuckin' brain cells because the red states are wide open, baby, and they're havin' the time of their life enjoying life being normal while we're sitting here in a fucking cage listening to these fuckin' idiotic fuckin' pieces of shit Democrat trying to ram their [unclear] shit down our throats.

And after again complaining about how Baker was ruining people's businesses and lives, he added,

You better find some money to help these fuckin' businesses because God forbid, one day, you're going down motherfuckers.

Silvestri did not appear at the licensing-board hearing on Rabia's violations, instead sending his manager and lawyer, who, after being yelled at by board Chairwoman Kathleen Joyce about the "extreme case," meekly apologized and vowed to never do it again.

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Guy whose North End restaurant was cited for Covid-19 violations spent New Year's Eve at a maskless, crowded dance party in Florida, where he screamed...

Following an Eater tradition, we asked a group of restaurant critics, journalists, bloggers, and as a new twist this year a couple industry pros to weigh in on the year in food. Their answers to an annual Year in Eater survey will be revealed in several posts this week. Next up, the dining experts share what 2021 restaurant openings excite them the most.

Tom Sietsema, Washington Post food critic: Im a big fan of Peruvian cooking, so I cant wait to take a bite out of Chelita in Blagden Alley, where chef Carlos Delgado will be featuring ceviche and skewered meats, fish, and vegetables the first of multiple ideas under one roof.

Jessica Sidman, Washingtonian food editor: It feels weird to be excited for a new restaurant, doesnt it? But Im very intrigued by Love, Makoto, the Japanese food hall coming to Capitol Crossing Development on Mass Ave. Maybe things will be semi-normal by the time its slated to open later next year?

Lenore Adkins, freelance food writer: Imperfecto, the latest from Venezuelan chef Enrique Limardo and co-owner Ezequiel Vzquez-Ger thatll bring a Latin-Mediterranean mix to West End. Theyre the same duo behind Immigrant Food and the wildly popular Seven Reasons and I honestly dont know how they get any sleep!

Ann Limpert, Washingtonian food editor and critic: Im excited to see what lawyer-turned-pizzaiolo Joey Barber does with the Capitol Hill brick and mortar space for Della Barba, which is currently carryout only. Hes getting into the bread game, too. And I cant wait to see what the Dabneys Jeremiah Langhorne has up his sleeve for later in the year.

Raman Santra, Barred in DC blogger: A tie between Daru (Indian food/cocktail spot) and Little Grand (long awaited pizza spot from All Souls folks).

Takera Gholson, Flights and Foods blogger: I am a chocolate lover so Im looking forward to Swiss chocolate chain Lderach coming to Union Station.

Simone Jacobson, co-owner of Thamee: St. Vincent Wine and De Rhum Spot on Georgia and Sherman Avenue NW, respectively, will bring a lot of great new energy to the neighborhood. I got a sneak peek at St. Vincent when construction was still being finished and I am fantasizing about very long afternoons in that humongous back garden and reading a book alone on the overlooking patio with lots and lots of great wine.

Anela Malik, Feed the Malik blogger: El Cielo. Though its already opened, Im truly excited for a time in 2021 (hopefully) where I feel comfortable sitting inside to try the tasting experience.

Tim Carman, Washington Post food columnist: You know what? I just want the bars and restaurants that closed down temporarily to return next year. That would be gift enough.

Paola Velez, executive pastry chef for Maydan, Compass Rose, and La Bodega: I havent experienced most of the new 2020 restaurants yet. Ill be trying to make my way through that list first.

Gabe Hiatt, Eater D.C. editor: Daru on H Street NE, with Dante Datta folding Indian flavors into cocktails and Suresh Sundas creating bar snacks like Desi guacamole papdi chaat or pickle-spiced achari chicken wings. The Peruvian multiplex coming to Blagden Alley from former China Chilcano chef Carlos Delgado and the Service Bar squad. Philotimo, Masseria chef-owner Nick Stefanellis long-delayed downtown restaurant that will take a high-end look at regional Greek cuisines. Maiz 64 on the 14th Street NW strip, because Im interested to see how chef Alam Mndez Florian rebounds after leaving Urbano 116, which got a lot better after ironing out some kinks. Jos Andrss Spanish Diner in Bethesda. Federalist Pig chef Rob Sondermans fried chicken place, Honeymoon Chicken, coming to Petworth. Carusos Grocery, a red sauce joint attached to the Roost in Capitol Hill. It will be fun to see what chef Autumn Cline does with her new executive chef job at Evening Star Cafe in Del Ray.

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The 2021 Restaurant Openings That D.C. Dining Experts Cant Wait to Try - Eater DC

Cookie Rich is a new cookie pickup and delivery service from Lorin Peters, a former chef de partie at The French Laundry. (Courtesy Todd White)

1. Bandit Coffee opened a second Austin location at 2902 Medical Arts St., Austin, in mid-November. The coffee shop originally opened in New York City before moving its operations to Austin. It opened its first Austin location in October on North Lamar Boulevard. Customers order coffee at the store through a mobile app. http://www.thebandit.com

2. Cookie Rich, a new cookie pickup and delivery service, is taking orders in Austin as of Dec. 10. The new company comes from Lorin Peters, a native Austinite whose career as a chef includes a stint as chef de partie at three-Michelin star restaurant The French Laundry in California. Customers can order Cookie Rich for delivery through DoorDash or pick up at the company's kitchen at 2201 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin. http://www.getcookierich.com

3. An unnamed, 41-story condominium tower at 84 East Avenue that developers are calling The East Tower for permitting purposes is set to break ground in the middle of 2021, with construction completion scheduled for the of 2023. The tower will include 284 residential homes averaging 975 square feet, according to a press release from Austin-based developer Pearlstone Partners, which is partnering with New York development company ATCO Properties and Management on the project. Austin's Design Commission approved the project by a 6-0 vote Nov. 23. 512-835-4890. http://www.pearlstonepartners.com

4. Fabi + Rosi, a West Austin neighborhood restaurant located at 509 Hearn St., Austin, closed its doors for good Dec. 10. In a note to the community, husband-wife owners Wolfgang Murber and Cassie Williamson wrote that the time has come for them to say goodbye. "Because of you, not only did this little dream of ours come true, it expanded into much much more than the two of us could have imagined 12 years ago," they wrote. http://www.fabiandrosi.com

5. La Piscina opened Dec. 2 on the fifth floor of the Austin Proper Hotel & Residences at 600 W. Second St., Austin. The Mexican restaurant includes ceviche, seafood and fajitas. The restaurant comes from local restaurant group McGuire Moorman Hospitality, which also operates another restaurant, The Peacock, and a bar, Goldie's, within Austin Proper. 512-628-1415. http://www.properhotel.com

6. Rainey Street Burgers is set to open in January at 51 Rainey St., Unit 140A, Austin, on the ground floor of the SkyHouse apartments next to Salvation Pizza and Emmer & Rye. Owner Karen Robinson has been an Austin resident since 1976 and comes from a career in tech. 512-399-5711. http://www.raineystreetburgers.com

7. Refine Aesthetics opened Nov. 16 at 713 W. 14th St., Austin. The new med spa is owned by Courtney Gill, a graduate of The University of Texas who has been practicing medical and cosmetic dermatology in Austin for close to 10 years. 281-793-5224. http://www.refineaesthetics.com

8. Electric moped company Revel announced it has discontinued service in Austin as of Dec. 18. "This decision was made after careful consideration, and it was not an easy one," read a statement on the company's website. Revel initially launched in Austin in 2019. The company is still operating in New York, where it was founded, as well as in Miami, Washington, D.C., and the Bay Area. http://www.gorevel.com

9. Second Bar + Kitchen closed its downtown location at 200 Congress Ave., Austin, in mid-November after 10 years in operation. "We appreciate all our amazing patrons as well as the incredible group of professionals involved throughout the last decade," read a note on its website. The restaurant from James Beard Award-nominated chef David Bull remains open at the Domain Northside and the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. http://www.secondbarkitchen.com

10. Downtown LGBTQ+ bar Sellers Underground, located at 213 W. Fourth St., Austin, closed permanently as of Dec. 5. "COVID-19 capacity restrictions have made it impossible for us to continue," the owners wrote in an Instagram post.

11. The W Austin and ACL Live at the Moody Theater, both located in the Block 21 property in downtown Austin. celebrated their 10th anniversaries in December. The building later added another, smaller music venue, 3Ten at ACL Live, which opened in 2016. W Austin: 200 Lavaca St., Austin. 512-542-3600. http://www.w-hotels.marriott.com. ACL Live: 310 Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin. 512-225-7999. http://www.acl-live.com

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Downtown Austin business news: New restaurants, a cookie service from an alum of The French Laundry and a second location for Bandit Coffee -...

The last month of 2020 hit Seattle bars and restaurants hard as statewide COVID-19 restrictions that banned indoor dining stretched into a second month.

While many had comfortably shifted to operating at a reduced capacity indoors early on in the fall, the new rules which Gov. Jay Inslee extended into January this week forced tired restaurateurs to once again pivot to takeout and outdoor seating, even as the days got rainier and temperatures dropped.

But even as over 80 restaurants permanently closed in 2020, there were a few bright notes in the food scene: several restaurants that closed earlier in the year have since reopened, including the vegan-haven Georgetown Liquor Company.

Other restaurants temporarily shut their doors amid the restrictions with plans to reopen sometime in 2021. Here's a list of closures and reopenings that occurred in December.

Endolyne Joe's in West Seattle.

This West Seattle spot for all manners of brunch fare and comfort food suspended service after the holidays with the hopes of reopening in the new year.

"We tried to make a go of the curbside/delivery services that we have been offering for the last several months, but we are at a point that we need to preserve enough capital to re-open when this nightmare is at least close to over," wrote the owners in a Facebook post. "We will be opening our doors back up when we are able to seat our tables again."

Alfi's Food and Deli in Denny Triangle.

The small bodega on Minor Avenue might not have seemed like much, but this Denny Triangle spot had survived 22 years in the fast-changing neighborhood. Many construction workers stopped by Alfi's for a quick and affordable lunch.

The owners closed the store and deli permanently on Dec. 13 after their lease renewal was denied.

According to Vanishing Seattle, the space is set to become a 7-11.

Feierabend

The after-work hub for beer and brats in South Lake Union closed on Dec. 23 after 14 years. With the neighborhood currently empty of tech workers as many continue to telecommute, the Bavarian brewpub decided not to renew their lease.

"Thank you for the years of support and great memories," wrote owner Chris Navarra in a farewell message.

Navarra's other German pubs, Prost, remain open in Phinney Ridge and West Seattle.

Jalisco Restaurant

South Park's family-owned Mexican restaurant quietly closed last month after 28 years in business.

The colorful restaurant served hearty plates of steaming enchiladas, carne asada and camarones al la diabla at affordable prices despite rising rent in the neighborhood.

Lecosho

After ten years of serving up seasonal, Pacific Northwest-inspired dishes from the Harbor Steps, popular happy-hour spot Lecosho permanently closed its doors at the end of December.

"What has really set us apart from most establishments in this city, is the genuine affection extant between our family and yours," wrote the owners in an Instagram post. "Without this, we would have been just one more restaurant bowing down under the weight of these impossibly difficult times."

Populuxe Brewing

Ballard's Populuxe Brewing closed before the holidays after eight years in the neighborhood, becoming one of the first breweries in Seattle to close as a result of the pandemic.

"Weve pivoted from takeout to outdoor service to indoor service back to outdoor service all while trying to balance concerns for the health and safety of our staff and customers," wrote the owners in a social media post announcing the closure. "Weve advocated at a local and federal level for financial help for small business grabbing the ear of every lawmaker we could get reach. We asked our landlord to listen to reason and work with us to modify our rent so we could survive to no avail. We filled out every grant and loan application available to us. But it was not enough and unfortunately, we have run out of options and time."

The nano-brewery grew a community in the neighborhood and even rose to critical acclaim among the state's beer lovers, winning Small Brewery of the Year at the 2018 Washington Beer Awards.

Wandering Goose

The Capitol Hill mainstay for southern brunch fare and pastries permanently closed after eight years in business. The bustling spot on 15th Avenue E. was sure to always have a line out the door on weekends.

"After eight years in Seattle and over one million biscuits baked, we want to take this moment to thank all of our extended Goose family and our amazing supportive community," wrote the owners in a farewell Instagram post. "The precarious economics of running a restaurant are no match for a global pandemic. We hope you continue to take this challenging time to support your existing, local independent restaurants."

But if you're really missing made-from-scratch biscuits and hospitality, their sister restaurant and hotel Tokeland remains operating for coastal retreats.

Grilled herb and Gouda polenta topped with apricot chutney and served with grilled purple carrots, drizzled with housemade balsamic reduction at Georgetown Liquor Company.

It wasn't all bad news in 2020: this longtime vegan-punk spot favorite actually reopened under new management of Highline's Alan Threewit, who was a longtime patron of the restaurant.

The reinvention of GLC keeps many of the classic menu items along with offering vegan sandwiches like French dip and pulled pork as well as infused cocktails from their new sister bar.

Mediterranean Chicken Sandwich at Pogacha Restaurant & Bar.

This Eastern Mediterranean staple reopened at their new Mercer Island outpost last month much to the delight of residents.

The Croatian-inspired restaurant is now serving up favorites like mushroom ravioli, lamb shank and fresh-baked flatbread pizza from their new home and are even offering delivery to island residents.

Clam chowder bowl at Seatown Market & Fishfry.

Downtown dwellers have something to cheer about in the new year: Tom Douglas's Seatown Market & Fishfry has officially reopened at Pike Place for all manners of salmon burgers and clam chowder.

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Seattle bars, restaurants that closed in December - seattlepi.com

Gavin Stewart|The Gaston Gazette

We can all agree this year has brought challenges like no other. Whether at work or home, COVID-19 has affected us all in some way.

The year also changed the Gaston County restaurant scene. Some spots permanently closed their doors after serving the community for many years.

And many new restaurants embraced the tough business climate and opened despite state and county stay-at-home orders and new, rigorous standards for cleaning and sanitization.

In this story we look back at the restaurants that left us this year, and we celebrate the restaurateurs who brought their concepts to Gaston County in 2020.

If we omitted a restaurant that should be included in this story, email gstewart@gastongazette.com.

2020 closures

Cicis

Most families probably recall the hot pizza, dessert buffet and arcade at Cicis in Franklin Square, which went by Cicis Pizza for most of its existence. In July, the franchise owner closed the Gastonia location after 22 years of business.

Market Street Buffet & Bakery

A longstanding buffet that served a variety of comfort foods also didnt escape the grip of COVID-19 restrictions. State COVID-19 restrictions especially hurt Market Street Buffett & Bakery and other local buffets, which relied mostly on dine-in customers rather than takeout.

Market Street, which opened 24 years ago, thanked patrons for their longtime dedication in a Facebook statement in July.

Franky Ts Pizzeria

When one doorcloses, another opens, but it doesn't always stay open.

In 2015, Franky Ts Pizzeria took the reins from Sal Rando, who ran Sals Pizzeria on North New Hope Road between Dallas in Gastonia. Franky Ts enjoyed business at the Food Lion shopping center until spring 2020, just as Gov. Roy Cooper ordered restaurants close their dining rooms.

Rando brought his pizzeria to the shopping center in November.

2020 openings

Booja Korean Restaurant

Gaston Countys first Korean barbecue restaurant opened this summer in the former Wassabi Japanese Restaurant location on South New Hope Road.

Booja Korean Restaurant, headed by Yunhee Yu, serves traditional Korean dishes, sushi and cocktails, as well as Japanese dishes and sushi.

In November, the restaurant unveiled tableside grills, which customers can use to cook their own Korean barbecue favorites similar to an experience at The Melting Pot.

B&Js Smokehouse and BBQ

Not far from Gastonia FUSE District sits Gaston Countys newest name in barbecue. B&Js Smokehouse and BBQ on West Franklin Boulevard, which opened before the pandemic, smokes much of its dishes, including the chicken, pork, cabbage and corn, and serves cocktails and beer to wash it all down.

Sammys Neighborhood Pub of Dallas

The second installment of Sammys Neighborhood Pub debuted inside a 150-year-old building on West Trade Street in Dallas in November. Customers can order most of the same offerings available at the Belmont location, including Sammys famous wings and fried pickles, sandwiches, craft beer and more.

De Corias Bagel Shop

Longing for authentic New York-style bagels? Look no further than De Corias Bagels in Franklin Square near Walmart. Patrons will find a good variety of bagels and cream cheeses, as well as signature sandwiches and Ruebens for lunch.

Sals Pizza

When Franky Ts Pizzeria shuttered in spring 2020, Sal Rando knew he should return to the kitchen along North New Hope Road near Dallas. In November, Rando reopened Sals Pizzeria, which closed in 2015, and was overwhelmed by support. The day after reopening, Rando said he had to turn the phones off to keep up with orders.

Primal Brewery

A brewery that opened in Huntersville in 2013 opened its second location in the former Rivermen Brewing Co. on Ervin Street in Belmont.

Aside from its solid beer offerings, owners David Hoy and Ray Steimel brought in Chef Tim Schafer to whip up a diverse menu of beer-infused dishes. The brewery also plans to relocate the majority of its brewing operations to Belmont.

JPs House

After Sakura Japanese Restaurant had a 20-year run in Franklin Square, Patrick Yang and Jim Chen owners of JPs House on Robinwood Road in Gastonia -- saw an opportunity they couldnt pass up. Prior to pandemic shutdowns, the duo opened a second location in the former Sakura location, which now features an open-concept view of the hibachi chef, a full service bar and a menu full of Japanese favorites.

Jekyll & Hyde Taphouse and Grill

A former car dealership at 10 Catawba St. in Belmont joined the ranks of downtown dining destinations.

Jekyll & Hyde Taphouse and Grill opened its second location the first in Matthews -- in May. An abundance of Irish entrees, burgers, steaks, appetizers, cocktails and more are available at this steampunk-themed grill. This location brews beer of its own, but also sells a number of regional craft beer.

Eateries of Franklin Woods

As crews wrapped up construction of the Franklin Woods retail corridor, it brought a handful of new restaurants for Gaston County residents to enjoy.

Bojangles, Salsaritas Fresh Mexican Grill, Bubbas 33 and Back Yard Burgers all opened at some point during 2020.

New locations

Pita Wheel

Gaston Countys epic, fast, fun center for wings, burgers and pita creations opened in downtown Gastonia in October after outgrowing its Dallas digs.

Pita Wheel features a beer garden with long festival tables made in Germany, a full service bar, a craft beer market and dining tables throughout.

Hillbillys BBQ & Steaks

After serving some of the areas best pit-smoked barbecue for 30 years near Interstate 85 in Lowell, Hillbillys BBQ & Steaks opened in a new standalone building on South Main Street.

While it was bittersweet, owner Gerald Duncan was happy to give his employees and patrons a new home so the restaurant could continue satisfying customers for decades to come.

You can reach reporter Gavin Stewart at 704-869-1819 or on Twitter @GavinGazette.

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Looking back at Gaston County restaurants we gained, lost in 2020 - Gaston Gazette