The Business Round Up! (9/1)
Thank you for tuning into this week's business round up! You will find information about new restaurants below, divided by state and county. Counties are ordered alphabetically in each state.
North Carolina
Wake County
Randy's Pizza
CARY, NC – Randy's Pizza is preparing to open a new restaurant at 1120 Parkside Main St, Cary, NC 27519, moving from its former Morrisville location on Davis Drive, owner Randy Smith told Business Debut.
The Morrisville restaurant at 4129 Davis Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560 closed at the end of May after a drop in sales tied to the departure of its anchor grocery tenant, Smith said. The Cary site previously housed a Noodles & Company.
Georgia
Fulton & Gwinnett County
Eggscape
ATLANTA, GA – Eggscape, a breakfast and brunch bar concept from owner Nahom Mekonnen, is planned for 2839 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 and 4955 Sugarloaf Pkwy Suite 110, Lawrenceville, GA 30044, Mekonnen shared with Business Debut in a phone interview.
Fulton County
Illusion Sports Bar and Grill
ATLANTA, GA – Illusion Sports Bar and Grill is preparing to open a Buckhead location at the former Annie's Thai Castle space at 3195 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305, co-owner Nahom Mekonnen told Business Debut in a phone interview.
Mekonnen said he and partners Amanuel Kassaye and Yonathan Kassaye are targeting about 90 days from late August for opening.
The site sits across Roswell Road from Lost Dog Tavern, Dive Bar Buckhead, and Red Door Tavern.
Palate Paradise
ATLANTA, GA – Palate Paradise, a seafood-focused takeout restaurant from owner Charles Warren, is targeting an opening in late September at 944 McDaniel St Sw, Atlanta, GA 30310, Warren told Business Debut in a phone interview.
Warren built Palate Paradise during the pandemic. He began selling plates around Atlanta through social media and word of mouth. His business grew into a food truck and is now moving into a permanent location.
Florida
Brevard County
Crossroads Jerk Center
MERRITT ISLAND, FL — Crossroads Jerk Center, a Caribbean restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating and a nightlife component, is in construction inside Merritt Square Mall at 777 E Merritt Island Cswy, Merritt Island, FL 32952, co-owner Lora Cross shared with Business Debut in a phone interview.
Cross and co-owner Dwight Fisher are targeting an opening in about a month as construction advances and painting wraps up.
Broward County
Sababa Hummus House
PARKLAND, FL — Sababa Hummus House, a new kosher pareve restaurant from owner Olena Chuienko, is preparing to open soon at 7515 N Sr-7, Parkland, FL 33433, Chuienko told Business Debut in a phone interview.
Chuienko said the team is waiting on final city steps and aims to open within about two weeks.
Escambia County
Pelican Bar and Grill
PENSACOLA, FL — Pelican Bar and Grill, a new family entertainment center with a full bar, restaurant, and arcade, is planned for 1420 W Nine Mile Rd Units A-B, Pensacola, FL 32534, co-owner Reddy Kandala told Business Debut in a phone interview.
Highlands County
Rhythm and Brews
SEBRING, FL – Local couple Crystal and Bruce Contreras plan to open Rhythm and Brews, a classic rock-focused restaurant and music venue, at 6130 US-98, Sebring, FL 33876, in the former Zach's Breakfast Cafe space, Contreras shared with Business Debut in a phone interview.
The space sits in the plaza next to Subway across from Dollar General on U.S. 98, and the build-out will combine several former units into one large venue.
Manatee County
Bottega Del Gusto
PARRISH, FL — Bottega Del Gusto, a new Italian restaurant and retail concept from restaurateur Giuseppe Del Sole, is planned for 1890 U S Hwy 301 Ste 100 Parrish, FL 34219.
Del Sole is targeting early 2027 for opening, he told Business Debut in a phone interview.
Okaloosa County
Galactic Arcade & Bar
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL – Galactic Arcade & Bar is set to open this week at 550 Mary Esther Cutoff NW #10, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, featuring dozens of arcade and pinball machines on all-day free play, owner Christopher Mickens told Business Debut in a phone interview.
Mickens said the grand opening is planned for Friday, September 4, at 2 p.m.
Sarasota County
Dominick's Family Pizza
SARASOTA, FL — Dominick's Family Pizza, a family-run pizzeria rooted in a multigenerational restaurant legacy, is targeting a soft opening in about two months at 8317 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243, owner John Papandrea told Business Debut in a phone interview.
The concept draws on recipes from Papandrea’s late father, Dominick, who built a long career in the pizza business after emigrating from Reggio Calabria, Italy. “These are all my father's recipes,” Papandrea told Business Debut.