Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

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Published: Mar 26, 2008

>> WAITING LIST

Formerly Kitchen USA, Jay Choi's space on the corner of 20th and Spruce will feature two sides: one for food and groceries and another for takeaway beer (liquor license is on the way). While we're bi-bim-bummed that Korean-American Choi will not be offering his native dishes (far too labor-intensive, he says), we'll be cool settling with fresh-made gourmet sandwiches, organic produce and La Colombe coffee. Choi hopes to be open sometime in the next three weeks.

Shields Business Solutions' John Shields, who specializes in ATM and armored car services for the banking industry, is looking at mid- to late April to open this "automated convenience store" in the former Tigerlily boutique. The 500-square-foot Whiz Kid, which'll feature a selection of automated machines (coin counters, DVD rental kiosks) in addition to gadgetry for cappuccinos, hot chocolates and slushees, will also offer a (human-tended) lineup of self-serve coffees and some seating.

May looks to be the magic month for Earth, the highly anticipated Mount Airy brewpub from Tom Baker and Peggy Zwerver of the defunct Heavyweight Brewing. They're keeping their eye on the pie — a wood-burning oven is currently being installed, and Zwerver says they'll offer six seasonally rotating flatbread pizzas along with weekly specials. For beer, Baker's developing a lineup of all-new session-friendly recipes, including a low-ABV version of Heavyweight's cultish Biere d'Art.

>> LITTLE VITTLES

Vintage Wine Bar & Bistro co-owner Jason Evenchik says he needs about a week and "a couple dry runs" to open Time in the former Ludwig's Garten (1315 Sansom St.). The "updated country club" menu concept has been tweaked a bit — chef Frank Imbarlina will take a continental approach, with choices like grass-fed beef and game and seasonal items like caribou carpaccio. >> Les Bon Temps (114 S. 12th St.), from Carmine's Creole Café owner John Mims, will open on Friday, April 4. Get a sneak peek at the menu by checking out citypaper.net/clog, category: Menu Exclusive.

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