At the downtown growers’ market this a.m., I talked with a friend who said that Azu Cappuccino Cafe in Cedar Crest is now open, after some permitting issues that left all of us wondering what the heck was up with the signage and no action.

For months already, Fat Boy Cafe has been plying locals with sandwiches and homemade pastries in addition to the already spank-your-cheeks good roasted coffee.

Gordon’s italian opened in the previous Kokopelli’s (previously Pete’s Home of the Halfbreed), by Vivace’s Gordon Schutte.

And…. now we have North Inspired Cuisine in the old Chilepeno’s Bagel spot in the A-Frame up near the ski turn-off.

It shall be a good fall, friends.  Reports to follow, but comment away if you’ve been!

In the old Johnny Carino’s space at I-25 and Jefferson, the Yanni’s team is set to open a new restaurant,  called Nick and Jimmy’s Bar and Grill, serving more of the usual ‘comfort’ food that diners gearing up for a movie are usually craving.

Steaks will be broiled in their 1400-degree drawer, and the interior got nearly a million dollars’ worth of upgrades overall.  Yikes.

But, sales are already up at Yanni’s, so Nick and Jim are hoping the upturn will continue to bring eaters back to their usual habits of sitting down for an enormous bowl of pasta or some meat & potatoes.

Employees are being trained already, so the open date should be soon!