There was lots of activity on the restaurant front as we closed out 2014:

A building permit has been issued for the new Mellow Mushroom at 15170 Max Leggett Parkway in the quickly growing area near River City Marketplace. Owner John Valentino said he hopes to break ground in February or March with opening in late August or September.

His MM River City LLC paid $1.2 million for the 1.26-acre parcel in 2013. It will be his fifth Mellow Mushroom in the area.

Tenant Contractors has the contract for the $1.5 million, 5,398-square-foot project.

Uncle Maddios Pizza Joint has opened its first Jacksonville restaurant and second in Florida at 8221 Southside Blvd.

The franchise is owned by Kevin Gartner, who has rights to two more in Jacksonville and two in Gainesville. The Atlanta-based chain has plans to open 30 in Florida this year.

Pollo Tropical will build a restaurant at 9370 Atlantic Blvd., the site of an old Hess gas station $870,000, 3,771 square feet, North Coast Construction. Hess still owns the site, which is a block east of Southside Boulevard in the Regency area.

A building permit has been issued for the new Golden Corral at 1201 Memorial Park Road $1.3 million, 11,486 square feet, National Consulting & Development. It will replace the Golden Corral just east on Normandy Boulevard.

And a permit has been issued for Jimmy Johns Gourmet Sandwiches, 201 N. Laura St., $175,000, 1,304 square feet, Dakenna Development.

PERMITS

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Roger Bull's Sunday Notebook: Full menu of eateries on the way

There was lots of activity on the restaurant front as we closed out 2014:

A building permit has been issued for the new Mellow Mushroom at 15170 Max Leggett Parkway in the quickly growing area near River City Marketplace. Owner John Valentino said he hopes to break ground in February or March with opening in late August or September.

His MM River City LLC paid $1.2 million for the 1.26-acre parcel in 2013. It will be his fifth Mellow Mushroom in the area.

Tenant Contractors has the contract for the $1.5 million, 5,398-square-foot project.

Uncle Maddios Pizza Joint has opened its first Jacksonville restaurant and second in Florida at 8221 Southside Blvd.

The franchise is owned by Kevin Gartner, who has rights to two more in Jacksonville and two in Gainesville. The Atlanta-based chain has plans to open 30 in Florida this year.

Pollo Tropical will build a restaurant at 9370 Atlantic Blvd., the site of an old Hess gas station $870,000, 3,771 square feet, North Coast Construction. Hess still owns the site, which is a block east of Southside Boulevard in the Regency area.

A building permit has been issued for the new Golden Corral at 1201 Memorial Park Road $1.3 million, 11,486 square feet, National Consulting & Development. It will replace the Golden Corral just east on Normandy Boulevard.

And a permit has been issued for Jimmy Johns Gourmet Sandwiches, 201 N. Laura St., $175,000, 1,304 square feet, Dakenna Development.

PERMITS

Link:
Sunday Notebook: Full menu of eateries on the way

OCEANSIDE A second In-N-Out Burger restaurant is expected to open in Oceanside later this year near the northern entrance to the city.

The City Council unanimously approved the project on North Coast Highway, west of Interstate 5, during its Dec. 17 meeting. Council members praised the popular hamburger chain for bringing another location to Oceanside.

Im very happy that In-N-Out Burger has decided that this is a great spot because we think that this is a great spot for In-N-Out Burger, said Councilwoman Esther Sanchez.

When it opens, the 3,750-square-foot drive-through restaurant will replace a Carrows diner that opened in 1990 on the one-acre site. The building was previously home to a Bobs Big Boy Restaurant that opened in 1973.

The restaurant will have indoor seating for 76 people and outdoor tables for an additional 40 customers. It will also have 43 parking spaces.

The Carrows restaurant, which officials said was had been an underperforming location, is expected to remain open until construction of the burger restaurant is ready to begin later this year.

This is an excellent freeway location and we look forward to serving the community for many years to come, said Jim Lockington, a project manager with In-N-Out Burger.

The chain operates another Oceanside location on Frazee Road near state Route 76.

The biggest praise for the proposed restaurant came from Councilman Jack Feller, who said he used to dine a Bobs Big Boy, and would visit the new In-N-Out.

This is a great addition, he said. We couldnt ask for anything better on that piece of property. Im excited for the people of downtown (Oceanside), theyll be walking from all over the place (to the restaurant.)

Visit link:
Second In-N-Out will open in Oceanside

HIGHTSTOWN: New restaurant expected to open soon

DATE POSTED: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 5:45 PM EST

By Amy Batista, Special Writer

Submitted photo. Work continues to open the 12 Farms Restaurant later this month or next.

"Construction is underway and we are on target to open at the end of January or the beginning of February depending on when we get our stamps of approval," said Chef Rennie DiLorenzo, of Hightstown, co-owner of the restaurant in an email on Dec. 28.

Chef Paul Burroughs and I went to culinary school together, he said.

"Im financing the operation but hes going to have say in the menu choices," he said. "Hell bring an American flair to the menu."

12 Farms Restaurant is located at 120 North Main Street and is about 1,500 square feet. It is located where the International Roasting Post Caf was located until closing in early Oct. 2014.

He said she opened up a retail space with a dual purpose, web design and art gallery, in 2009.

"When we moved to New York in 2010, the gallery space transitioned to another gallery owner," he said.

More here:
HIGHTSTOWN: New restaurant expected to open soon

Television sets and sports memorabilia dominate the decor at McCovey's restaurant in Walnut Creek, Calif., Monday, November 3, 2003. (KRISTOPHER SKINNER/Staff file photo)

WALNUT CREEK -- One of this city's major ties to the world champion San Francisco Giants is closing.

The Giants-themed McCovey's Restaurant is set to close in February after 11 years as a downtown staple.

The reason for the closure? Owners of McCovey's, named after Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman Willie McCovey, decided not to renew the lease, according to a news release from the restaurant.

"Instead, they are exploring interest in relocating to San Francisco," according to the release, sent by manager Rick Dudum. "A move to that area would fulfill Willie McCovey's original dream of being in close proximity to the ballpark."

Restaurant Manager Paul Ramos told Bay City News Wednesday that details of the move haven't yet been shared with staff, and the new restaurant won't open for at least two years.

The last day is set for Feb. 2, the day after the Super Bowl, Ramos said.

When the idea in partnership with McCovey -- close friends with the Dudum family -- for a restaurant was born in 2000, growth in the Mission Bay area around AT&T ballpark in San Francisco was at a standstill, so construction of the restaurant began in Walnut Creek instead, according to the release.

The Dudums have owned and operated many restaurants in Walnut Creek. And apparently now with the Mission Bay project in San Francisco now growing rapidly, "the timing is perfect to move the restaurant," according to the release. A specific location for the new restaurant and the date it may open were not included in the news release.

"For our customers to be able to watch three Giants' World Series at the restaurant in Walnut Creek has been the experience of a lifetime," McCovey said in the news release. "I loved being a part of that and I want to thank all of our customers and fans who have enjoyed the restaurant over the past 11 years, as well as the Walnut Creek City Council members who supported my vision."

View original post here:
Walnut Creek: McCovey's closing downtown, possibly moving to San Francisco

Published: Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 10:41 AM.

MOUNT AIRY -- A Cracker Barrel restaurant is on the menu for Mount Airy, city government sources say, which will serve up new jobs as well as home-style meals.

Rumors have swirled for months about such a development, leading to steps recently being undertaken through the Mount Airy Planning Department to make the new restaurant a reality. Construction is expected to begin in February at a site on U.S. 601 (Rockford Street) near its intersection with U.S. 52.

The plans have gone through and theyve been approved, city planner Andy Goodall said Tuesday regarding the restaurant. Goodalls work includes dealing with such projects, which must clear various regulatory hurdles.

I think theyve already gone through technical review, Mount Airy Community-Development Director Martin Collins said Tuesday of the plans by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

The restaurant will be built on a 2.85-acre site at 1948 Rockford St., the longtime home of Merritt Supply and Mount Airy Saw and Mower, two businesses that have shared the same building. Officials of those operations earlier announced plans to open at a new location on North South Street by this Friday.

This paves the way for the new Cracker Barrel on Rockford Street/U.S. 601.

The anticipated start date of construction is February, now that Mount Airy Saw and Mower has moved out of that building, Goodall said.

Details on the number of jobs to be available at the restaurant were unavailable Tuesday, including from a Cracker Barrel representative who would only confirm that the project is in its early stages.

We are in the preliminary stage at this time and hope to have more information to report in the future, added Janella Escobar, a spokeswoman for the restaurant chain headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee.

Go here to see the original:
Mayberry's getting a Cracker Barrel

By TOM JOYCE, The Mount Airy News

A Cracker Barrel restaurant is on the menu for Mount Airy, city government sources say, which will serve up new jobs as well as home-style meals.

Rumors have swirled for months about such a development, leading to steps recently being undertaken through the Mount Airy Planning Department to make the new restaurant a reality. Construction is expected to begin in February at a site on U.S. 601 (Rockford Street) near its intersection with U.S. 52.

The plans have gone through and theyve been approved, city planner Andy Goodall said Tuesday regarding the restaurant. Goodalls work includes dealing with such projects, which must clear various regulatory hurdles.

"I think theyve already gone through technical review, Mount Airy Community-Development Director Martin Collins said Tuesday of the plans by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.

The restaurant will be built on a 2.85-acre site at 1948 Rockford St., the longtime home of Merritt Supply and Mount Airy Saw and Mower, two businesses that have shared the same building. Officials of those operations earlier announced plans to open at a new location on North South Street by this Friday.

This paves the way for the new Cracker Barrel on Rockford Street/U.S. 601. To read more from The Mount Airy News, click here.

Read the rest here:
Cracker Barrel coming to Mount Airy

Published: Monday, December 29, 2014 at 1:00 a.m. Last Modified: Saturday, December 27, 2014 at 4:50 p.m.

Businesses opened and closed there this year, but local retail and restaurant boosters say they have high hopes for 2015, especially with new tenants due to open in the area in the coming months.

Paddywagon Irish Pub is the latest in a slew of restaurants and retailers committed to joining the Main Street lineup. The Irish pub, which has eight other Southwest Florida locations, announced its expansion to downtown Sarasota last week.

The pub joins Taco Bus, a popular Tampa Bay-based chain, and the locally known bar Evie's, which is opening a bowling alley downtown, that are under construction in a Main Street building owned by local entrepreneur Jesse Biter.

Younger residents have been waiting for the transformation of downtown Sarasota for a long time, said Biter, who owns several commercial buildings in the area.

"There's a lot of people investing a lot of money into Main Street right now," Biter said. "Which is great because there's a need for more entertainment in downtown."

Downtown development

New condominiums and hotels under construction are expected to bring more life to the city, said Norm Gollub, the downtown economic development coordinator for Sarasota.

"I think we're seeing a response to the market and a recovering economy," Gollub said.

"Since the recession, we've had a number of bars close, but with the addition of new residents and hotels coming to downtown, we think more retail and restaurant offerings will come."

See the article here:
Restaurants and shops following condos to downtown Sarasota

That Crepe Place a small, independently owned restaurant that opened more than three years ago at The Greene shut its doors for good Sunday night because its owner is moving to Japan for a job assignment.

We closed as of yesterday, Rodney Long, formerly of Mason, said this afternoon. My day job has moving me to Japan.

The closure affects six employees, Long said. The restaurant at 4474 Glengarry Drive opened in June 2011, and Long said it was doing well. But he chose not to try to keep it open from halfway around the world.

Long said he found out his new overseas assignment the day after Thanksgiving. I leave in two months, he said.

The restaurant served a variety of crepes, both savory and sweet, similar to what you would get in Paris, Long said in 2011. It seated about a dozen people inside.

Steve Willshaw, general manager at The Greene, said this afternoon that another tenant is lined up (and) will begin construction soon to fill the restaurants space.

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Restaurant shuts down at The Greene

It was a year of change in the Quad-Cities with downtown redevelopments, a facelift for one of our major malls, and construction in many corners of the region.

Alcoa Davenport Works kicked off the year with the completion of a major expansion. New retailers were added to the landscape from Elmore Marketplace in Davenport to Sam's Club in Moline. Housing took center stage with new projects in downtown Davenport and across the river in Rock Island and on Moline's riverfront.

Economic development groups marked milestones withRenew Moline and Rejuvenate Davenport bothcelebrating 25 years.

Not all the news was positive as Deere & Co. laid off more than 1,000workers across several of its Midwest plants, including the Quad-Cities. And long-time restaurant favorites such as the Belgian Village Inn in Moline and the Ice Cream Palace in Silvis closed their doors.

Here's a look at some of the year'stop stories.

Alcoa expansion

Alcoa Davenport Works began the year with the completion of a $300 million expansion, and before year's end had announced another $190 million investment in the Riverdale plant.

In February, the aluminum maker celebrated an expansion designed to meet the automobile industry's increasing appetite for aluminum. The project created 150 full-time jobs, 200 temporary construction jobs and helped retain 200 full-time jobs.

Then in November, Alcoa revealed plans to invest in new product offerings for the aerospace and industrial markets. The plant will install manufacturing technology to enhance the performance of thick aluminum and aluminum-lithium plate in various applications, including wing ribs and fuselage frames.

Construction will begin in 2015 with the first customer production expected to begin in 2017.

Original post:
A look back at 2014 in business