On Tuesday, the store at 1790 E. Eighth St. had a sign on the door saying it was closed temporarily for a family emergency. Someone was seen packing up boxes. On Wednesday, an eviction notice appeared on the storefront.

Owner Brian Roy purchased the store from Melissa Showalter in June 2024. It specializes in tabletop games, and hosts in-house events for games like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.

When I reached Roy by email, he confirmed the news. “We are hoping to find another location but for the moment, we will be closed and at most possibly fulfilling online orders.”

Comings & Goings acquired a copy of a notice Roy posted to staff Thursday morning on the private Davis Cards & Games Discord server.

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As I’ve reported, it’s filling the former Black Bear Diner space at 255 Second St. Umnartyutithum and his two partners are excited about the 4,300-square-foot space – more than twice what they had at Cindy’s.

The diner operated from 1973 to 2022 at 4823 Chiles Road. In its latter years, it was serving Thai food along with American diner favorites. Butter & Basil’s concept is similar but it’s a nicer, larger space with room for more offerings.

“I always intended to go back to Davis,” he said. He was holding out for a place with a parking lot.

The 61-year-old native of Thailand said he’s excited to bring his American and Thai cooking back to town. He still operates a Thai restaurant, Thai Terrace, in Sacramento.

“You cannot find old style cooking anymore.” He said much of the food served at chain diners is precooked and reheated, and the gravy is made from a powder.

“No one does biscuits and gravy from scratch anymore, but that’s what we do at Cindy’s, everything from scratch. Our customers can tell the difference.”

(He still calls it Cindy’s even though he came up with the great new name, Butter & Basil, which spotlights key ingredients in American and Thai cooking.)

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It’s a soft opening. Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

This is the company’s second cafe. Owners Rob Watson and Ryan Harden founded Camellia Coffee in 2016, at 1200 R St., Suite 120 in downtown Sacramento. They also have a private production space off Broadway in Sacramento.

The Sacramento cafe is also open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Harden said Davis hours may change based on demand.

The company is known for its quality and consistency, Harden said. “Breakfast sandwiches are made to order, and our coffee is unique to us.”

Besides traditional coffee drinks, the Davis cafe offers bagels with optional avocado, Ginger Elizabeth jam or “hooked-up”: with scallion-dill cream cheese and smoked salmon. The two-egg omelet breakfast sandwiches are made on a brioche bun with cheese, scallions and cholula aioli with bacon, sausage, veggies or a combination thereof, and optional avocado.

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Last month, I announced the former owner of Cindy’s Kow Thai had signed a lease for the old Black Bear Diner spot at 255 Second St. in Davis. Now, we know what it will be called: Butter & Basil.

“A new name, the same warm hospitality, and delicious food you know and love,” owner Jerry Umnartyutithum said in a social media post. “We are planning to open in early September, and can’t wait to welcome everyone back.”

It said it will serve “delicious, traditional-style cooking,” featuring classic breakfasts, juicy burgers, fresh sandwiches, homemade pies, delicious cakes, premium coffee, and authentic Thai food.

The new location is 4,300 square feet, more than twice the size of the former Cindy’s, which operated from 1973 to 2022 at 4823 Chiles Road. It was a regular diner for the bulk of its existence. In its later years, under Umnartyutithum’s ownership, it changed into a Thai restaurant in the evenings. That 2,100-square-foot building was torn down to make way for a Chipotle, which could open as soon as this month.

He operates another Thai eatery, Thai Terrace, at 1596 Howe Ave. in Sacramento. Some former Davis regulars make the trip to eat there.

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“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all your support over the years,” he said. “Your encouragement has made this new chapter possible, and we look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new friends very soon.”

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Work started June 28 on the former Ace Hardware housewares building at 240 G St. It’s being turned into a mixed-use site with retail on the ground floor and apartments above.

My business column covers housing developments only if a retail project is being replaced or added. This one, and The Lumberyard project I write about next, checks both boxes.

The 22,000-square-foot building will be replaced with a six-story one with about 139,000 square feet. Plans call for ground-floor commercial spaces with six live/work units, and 120 apartments in five levels of residential above. Six units are designated as affordable housing – one per floor. There will be one level of underground parking for 80 cars – some of them stacked with a mechanical parking system. The flats would be a mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom units.

In a social media post, the city wrote: “Starting June 28, builders will perform some work inside the building as well as removing sections of the roof, and will lend the vacant building out to the Davis Fire Department for some drills the week of July 20.” Demolition is scheduled to begin the week of July 28 and continue for 60 workdays.

During the demo, the sidewalk along the property on Third Street and the alley behind Woodstock’s Pizza will be closed to pedestrians for about 10 days. For safety, parking spaces around the property will be reduced, too, but portions of the G Street lot will remain open.

The developer is 240 G Partners LLC of Oakland. To read more about the project, visit this page on the city’s website.

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The Davis Cindy’s opened in 1973 at 4823 Chiles Road. The American diner franchise changed hands a couple of times. When it closed in 2022, it was operating as a morning diner and evening Thai restaurant called Cindy’s Kow Thai. The owner continues to operate a Thai eatery, Thai Terrace, at 1596 Howe Ave. in Sacramento. A lot of Davis fans make the trip.

Last year, the old Cindy’s building was demolished for a Chipotle. I have an update on that project later in this column.

Umnartyutithum called me last week, excitedly sharing the news: “Cindy’s is back!” But the lease wasn’t official. Black Bear still needed to terminate its lease, and the Cindy’s owner had to sign his. Late Monday, broker Steve Boschken of Boschken Properties confirmed that those were done.

Boschken reached out to Umnartyutithum after reading Comings & Goings. “Thank you for connecting Jerry and me, He is such a wonderful person,” Boschken said today. “We are thrilled to have him back in Davis.”

The new eatery is not going to be the same as Cindy’s.

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Another Sacramento coffee company is expanding to Davis. Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters has a lease for the last remaining space in The Davis Collection.

I’ve been noting for a while that the new shopping center needed a coffee house to round out its offerings. The Davis Collection replaced University Mall on Russell Boulevard in Davis, between Sycamore Lane and Anderson Road.

Sacramento-based Chocolate Fish has locations at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Sacramento, on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento, on Freeport Boulevard in Land Park, and one on Blue Ravine Road in Folsom. It also has two kiosks in Terminal B of Sacramento International Airport.

It is the second Sacramento coffee company recently to announce plans to come to Davis. I have an update on Camellia Coffee below, along with more information about Chocolate Fish.

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As I’ve reported, the Sacramento area restaurant group Fukumi will operate two separate restaurants there: Pier 50 Sushi and Fukumi Chaya x Momo Katsu. Pier 50 Sushi will fill the Third Street side and offer made-to-order, all-you-can-eat sushi. Fukumi Chaya x Momo Katsu, a ramen and katsu restaurant, will be based out of the F Street portion of the building.

Now, I have news on the hopeful timing of the openings, and whether the patio plays a part.

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Co-owner Trent Yackzan released a statement today, in response to my queries: “As the way people enjoy beer continues to change, we have chosen to focus our efforts through our restaurant, events and community partnerships, while pausing broad distribution.”

He said Sudwerk beer “remains available at our restaurant and select local partners, while our restaurant continues to host guests, banquets, live music and community events. This shift allows us to focus on smaller-batch brewing and stay closely connected to the customers we serve.”

He said People’s Pilsner and Gunrock IPA are still being canned, with other beers released seasonally. Sudwerk is still available on tap at some Davis-area bars and restaurants.

The restaurant is at 2001 Second St. Its tap list carries some Sudwerk beers but has increasingly relied on “guest taps” – though those have been a staple since the eatery opened in April 2023. In its May 27 email newsletter, it listed just a few of its own brews: People’s Pilsner served as a traditional or side pour, Werk Lite Lager, Overgrowth Double IPA, and Life is Hard Seltzer-Grapefruit.

It’s still brewing out of the two iconic copper kettles in the restaurant. For the first time, the UC Davis Iron Brew-winning beer – an annual competition among brewing students – was brewed at Dunloe Brewing in Davis. The May 27 Sudwerk email newsletter attributed this to “part of a new effort to rotate production of the winning recipe among local Davis breweries, highlighting the strong ties between the UC Davis brewing program and the local brewing community.”

Sudwerk opened in 1989 and had an onsite brewpub. The restaurant closed in 2016. At one point, it was doing contract brews for several other breweries.

Now, it’s no longer distributing its beer. Its distributor, Donaghy Sales, is reportedly out of Sudwerk products. And a quick survey of local stores show Sudwerk products are out of stock. That includes the Nugget Markets in East Davis and Woodland, the South Davis Safeway, and the Woodland Bel Air.

When the restaurant reopened in 2023, it was the culmination of a major investment that included a renovated kitchen, eatery, bathrooms and meeting rooms, and a 3,500-square-foot beer garden. Although more ambitious at first, hours at the restaurant are 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4 to 10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Sudwerk has won numerous awards for its beers, including back-to-back golds at the esteemed Great American Beer Festival in 2021 and 2022 for its People’s Pilsner. In 2021, it was named Brewer and Brewery of the year in the 5,001 to 15,000 barrels category at the GABF.

“We’re proud of our legacy and grateful for the support we’ve received along the way,” Yackzan said.

He said they are also “grateful for the support of our employees, customers and community throughout our history, and for being part of the Sudwerk story.”

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→ A note to subscribers: I want to thank you again for your support of Comings & Goings. As I enter my third year on Substack, many of you are renewing your subscriptions. You help keep this column ad-free. I charge the minimum allowed by Substack but I know that $5 a month or $50 a year is not minimal to you. I will not let you down.

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The soft opening started at noon on Friday, offering only its Staxx Bread (Spanish sweet rolls). A grand opening is set for noon on Saturday, where it should have a wider selection of its typical offerings.

Its menu includes raised, cake, French cruller, mochi and ube doughnuts; Kronuts (its name for a croissant/doughnut cross); and ube Staxx Bread. The doughnuts and Kronuts come with a wide variety of flavored icings and toppings. Check out its menu here.

BAD Bakers is at 2021 Bronze Star Drive, Suite 400, in a spot last occupied by Subway. BAD is an acronym for bread and doughnuts.

→ Climbing soon: The climbing gym The Stack Climbing + Fitness is almost ready to open. Management had hoped to open it this weekend but it’s waiting for final city approval.

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Miles Gorder, the owner of Milestones Movement Therapy in Davis, said he’s excited about how it’s coming together. Milestones will move from 1801 Hanover Drive, Suite D, when the new spot nears completion.

Gorder is leasing the former All Things Right & Relevant building at 2801 Spafford St. His plans for the 9,712-square-foot space go much further than the services of Milestones. The concept calls for a “state-of-the-art urban wellness retreat” that includes a spa with soaking pools, a gym, and expanded services for Milestones.

Its website says, Tulē will feature “a self-paced communal sauna and spa experience including cold plunge, sauna, steam room, hot soaking pool, magnesium mineral pool, massage therapy, and an open gym with a down-to-earth ‘make it a daily habit’ approach. Your one-stop shop for taking your wellbeing into your own hands.”

Facilities will be available by membership or through day passes.

He said they’re targeting a fall opening. “As construction has progressed, we’ve continued refining details throughout the space to ensure the final experience matches the vision we set out to create.

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“Projects of this scale and complexity naturally evolve over time, especially with the level of custom design and wellness infrastructure involved,” he said. “Rather than rushing to open prematurely, we’re focused on delivering the experience thoughtfully, and at the quality that our future members and guests will expect.”

All Things Right & Relevant, a nonprofit consignment and thrift store that benefited Yolo County mental health charities, closed in March 2024.

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I don’t take that support lightly. I charge the minimum allowed on Substack: $5 a month or $50 a year. In my third year here, that will not change. And though some Substackers are starting to incorporate ads, I have no desire to go in that direction.

Because there are thousands of you, I’ve been able to retire from my other gigs and focus on what I love – this work. I enjoy tracking down and verifying facts, and keeping the community informed about business changes. Thanks for putting your trust in me. I appreciate all the news tips and compliments that come my way. Cheers to the next 25 years.

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→ Fresh-baked: Sourdough Bread Company finally opened on Tuesday – a week later than I last anticipated. It’s at 2880 Fifth St., Suite 100A, next to Bourbons & More in Davis.

The brand uses newly baked sourdough and tops it with premium meats, artisan cheeses and fresh produce. Its menu includes sandwiches and half-sandwich deals, soups (in bread bowls, if you like), salads, flatbreads, mac and cheese, and more. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

It gets confusing because there are lots of franchise eateries with sourdough in their name. This one isn’t affiliated with the one that was once in University Mall. That was West Coast Sourdough (previously Sourdough & Co.), which closed in 2022. Owner Nav Nijjar of Tracy has Sourdough Bread Company delis in Roseville, El Dorado Hills, Sunnyvale and Redding, with plans for another in Redding and one in Monterey.

Visit its website for information.

→ Restaurant grants available: Northern California independent restaurants and caterers are again eligible to apply for a $5,000 Resilience Fund grant from the California Restaurant Foundation. Completed applications must be submitted by June 30.

In 2024, Davis’ Mabel’s Market was one of the recipients. Owner Shelley Dunning learned about the grant by reading Comings & Goings. She used the funds to buy equipment for a new kitchen she hopes to open soon. The store, at 222 D St. in Davis, sells picnic and charcuterie merchandise. The bistro addition will add small bites, wine and beer.

The Resilience Fund, which debuted in 2021 during the COVID-19 crisis, has helped independent restaurants across California, in partnership with the PG&E Corporation Foundation for Northern California (and SoCalGas, and San Diego Gas and Electric in Southern California).

Recipients may use the grant money to support business needs, including kitchen equipment upgrades, technology improvements, unforeseen hardships, employee training programs and retention bonuses.

Grants are available to all California-based restaurant owners and commercial caterers within the utility companies’ service areas, provided they operate fewer than five units and generate less than $3 million in annual revenue, a news release said. Apply here between June 1 and 30. Recipients will be announced the week of Aug. 23.

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Three Davis businesses are choosing to open or reopen on “Star Wars” Day. I’ve got that and a galactic amount more in this column.

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→ Dojo ditches downtown: Inspire Martial Arts had its last class on Wednesday at its downtown Davis location. As I post this, staff members are moving and settling into their new spot at 4614 Second St. They plan to have it open on Monday.

It fills the former Strelitzia Flower Co. space across from Target. Strelitzia moved to a larger space at 2810 Cowell Blvd.

On April 22, the Davis Planning Commission approved Inspire owner Richard Baciarini’s permit request. The new location was zoned light industrial, so an exercise studio required a conditional-use permit for commercial mixed use.

Though the new space is slightly smaller ­– 5,500 instead of 6,100 square feet – it has a lot more parking and a better layout, Baciarini told me in March.

“The reason for the move is to get a ton of dedicated parking, which is currently a challenge for us, being downtown. Our new location will also have an easier way to quickly and safely drop (off) and pick up students,” he said.

The new location will have a room for camps and parties, he said. Learn more about Inspire on its website.

→ Just the facts: A Reddit post on Tuesday spread a nasty rumor that the Davis Trader Joe’s was closing. It was false. You know where to get your trusted business news.

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(Due to its length, your email preview may cut this post short, showing three dots. Click on “View entire message” to keep reading.)

→ Dojo ditches downtown: Inspire Martial Arts had its last class on Wednesday at its downtown Davis location. As I post this, staff members are moving and settling into their new spot at 4614 Second St. They plan to have it open on Monday.

It fills the former Strelitzia Flower Co. space across from Target. Strelitzia moved to a larger space at 2810 Cowell Blvd.

On April 22, the Davis Planning Commission approved Inspire owner Richard Baciarini’s permit request. The new location was zoned light industrial, so an exercise studio required a conditional-use permit for commercial mixed use.

Though the new space is slightly smaller ­– 5,500 instead of 6,100 square feet – it has a lot more parking and a better layout, Baciarini told me in March.

“The reason for the move is to get a ton of dedicated parking, which is currently a challenge for us, being downtown. Our new location will also have an easier way to quickly and safely drop (off) and pick up students,” he said.

The new location will have a room for camps and parties, he said. Learn more about Inspire on its website.

→ Just the facts: A Reddit post on Tuesday spread a nasty rumor that the Davis Trader Joe’s was closing. It was false. You know where to get your trusted business news.

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Peet’s closed the 231 E St. store at the end of January. The chain’s cafe in The Marketplace, at 1411 W. Covell Blvd., Suite B, remains open.

Owners Rob Watson and Ryan Harden founded Camellia Coffee in 2016, at 1200 R St., Suite 120 in downtown Sacramento. They also have a private production space off Broadway in Sac.

“We have a heavy focus on wholesale, providing coffee to local cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels, etc.,” Harden said via email.

He said they hope to have the Davis cafe open next month. “Since Peet’s was a working cafe, we don’t expect to have as many hurdles,” he said.

The Sacramento coffeehouse is open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. That’s the initial plan for Davis too.

“If the Davis community would like us to be open later, we are open to making that happen,” he said.

I mentioned to Harden that we have a lot of coffee in downtown Davis, and Starbucks and Peet’s chose to close their downtown stores. So, what sets Camellia apart?

“We like to keep things down to earth, fun and approachable. With Starbucks and Peet’s leaving, we believe there’s plenty of space for more specialty coffee. We have a relatively small menu, but quality and consistency are key. Breakfast sandwiches are made to order, and our coffee is unique to us.”

He said they chose Davis intentionally. “We just celebrated our 10-year anniversary, and have been looking to expand out of Sacramento. We like the energy of Davis, and it seems like the perfect place for Camellia. Also, we have quite a few alumni working for us.”

Learn more at the Camelia Coffee Roasters website.

→ 2nd chance: I finally got the deets on 2nd STREET, the used closing store coming to The Davis Collection. It fills a 4,562-square-foot space next to J.Crew Factory. Until now, the Southern California company has not responded to my messages.

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A pre-Picnic Day inspection of The Davis Beer Shoppe on Thursday led to its temporary closure for operating with suspended alcohol licenses.

Davis police Lt. John Evans said, “Our guys went in there with ABC (state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control) last week to do the pre-Picnic Day bar checks and ABC determined their license was suspended, and they shut him down.”

ABC records show The Davis Beer Shoppe’s two licenses – for beer and wine sold for onsite and off-site consumption – as “rev(ocation) pending.” That indicates ABC initiated steps to revoke its license. It’s in “a probationary period where the licensee may be required to meet specific conditions to avoid permanent revocation,” according to the bureau’s website.

The records show the licenses expired on Jan. 31. It’s been operating since then without one.

I sent two messages to owner Taylor Ramos since Monday but he did not respond.

The shop is a taproom and a beer store at 211 G St. in downtown Davis. Since it opened in March 2011, it’s consistently had the best tap list and best selection of canned and bottled beer in town.

A sign on the door reads, “The Davis Beer Shoppe will be closed today (Friday, April 10th) due to administrative maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Cheers.”

→ Could Cindy’s return? The owner of the longtime South Davis restaurant Cindy’s reached out to me again. Jerry Umnartyutithum is desperate to get contact info about how to lease the former Black Bear Diner space at 255 Second St. The diner closed for good late last month.

His real estate agent told him the property is owned by a trust, and there’s no contact information for leasing it. He asked me to put word out that he is super interested. Fingers crossed!

→ Chip in for Paint Chip owner: There’s an online fundraiser for Maia Sturges, who has owned The Paint Chip with husband Brian since 2008.

Maia was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2020, after fighting off breast cancer in 2018. The money being raised is to offset medical and business expenses. Today, after just a week, they had raised more than $16,000 toward a $20,000 goal.

Store employees posted the following message on Facebook: “The Davis community is calling out for URGENT support for the Sturges family as Maia fights brain cancer. … Maia and Brian Sturges have provided Davis artists and crafters of all ages an invaluable resource. Now is our chance to be a resource to them as they face overwhelming medical and business expenses.”

Here is the GoFundMe link, where you can read more.

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It’s been a busy week for Yolo County business news, so there’s lots to discuss. Let’s get started.

The new Cold Stone Creamery began its soft opening on Saturday in The Davis Collection. The 900-square-foot store is at 835 Russell Blvd., Suite 190, in the center’s courtyard area.

Employees use a cold marble surface to blend house-made ice cream with chosen mix-ins. Davis previously had a Cold Stone in The Marketplace but it closed more than a dozen years ago.

Hours for the new shop are 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, staying open an extra half hour on Friday and Saturday nights.

→ Frying away: In West Davis, Seoulmate Korean Kitchen’s soft opening began Friday at 1260 Lake Blvd., Suite 111. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 8 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays.

Its Instagram page shows dishes like stir-fried glass noodles, kimbap, bibimbap, and several boneless Korean fried chicken options.

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→ One door closes: A reminder that the Black Bear Diner at 255 Second St. closed for good last Sunday.

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After celebrating its 50th anniversary in August, Davis’ Freewheeler Bicycle Center is changing hands.

The new owners are Ron Jackman and Abbie Sambrano. Though I’ve been getting tips about this for months, I agreed not to share the news until the sale was finalized.

Jackman has a background in customer service, marketing and tech. His life partner Sambrano has experience in office management, administration and accounting. They live in Solano County.

Jackman said they have some ideas to creatively expand the business but don’t want to change its staff or relationship with area cyclists.

“There is a very deep service to the community that is provided here,” he said. “You can feel it and see it in the interactions.”

Frank Hein opened the Davis bike shop at 703 Second St. in 1975. His three sons, Jeff, Eric and Kevin have all worked there but Kevin and Jeff were involved in day-to-day operations. Jeff’s daughter Sheri Rey was the next generation to join. Frank died in 2024 at age 88, and Jeff retired last year.

“It remind(s) me of a barbershop from back in the day,” Jackman said. “Yes, you would go primarily for the service or product but you’re also going … for the experience, for the laughs, for the knowledge, the connection. Those things – the relationships, the value that is beyond the quality of the products – will fundamentally stay the same.”

He commended the staff’s commitment. “The desire to do what’s right shines in every interaction. To be fair, I see some wonderful reviews on some of the other bike shops as well. It makes me happy to know that the passion is strong throughout the city.”

He said that when a business is run correctly, “you’ll notice that everything flows in a calm and natural way. That was the case with this one.”

When they met Kevin and Sheri, “We were absolutely floored by the professionalism, humor and overall skills. … We saw a really genuine connection between the customers and the staff as well. We loved the culture and wanted to be a part of it.”

They are excited to get into the bicycle business. Jackman said he rode bikes a lot as a child but stopped when he bought a car. When he picked it up again as an adult, all the feelings of freedom and fun rushed back. Today, he enjoys cycling with their son, 7. They also have a 12-year-old daughter, and Sambrano has an adult son.

Rey said she and her uncle Kevin will stay for a few months to help with the transition.

Rey added, “It’s been the Hein family’s absolute pleasure to be part of the Davis bicycle community for the past 50 years. To all of our many wonderful customers, neighbors and friends: Thank you! It’s been a great ride.”

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Can you bear it? After nearly 17 years, the Black Bear Diner in Davis will serve its last giant stack of pancakes on Sunday, March 29, employees confirm.

The restaurant, known for its hearty, all-day breakfasts, opened in Davis in May 2009, filling the former Baker’s Square space at 255 Second St., at Second and B streets.

According to its website, the Redding-based chain has 153 restaurants in 14 states, with two new eateries planned for Texas and one in Tennessee. The closest one to Davis is at 1530 E. Main St. in Woodland, which seems to be safe for now. About half of the newer locations are franchised. At least one other Black Bear Diner, in Midwest City, Okla., is also closing at the end of this month.

According to its website, the chain opened 10 new locations in 2022, seven in 2023 and planned 14 in 2024, when it posted the update. At the time, it counted 156 locations, but is now down to 153, not counting the ones closing this month. It is owned by private equity firm GreyLion.

The company says it remains committed to its full-service dining model, in contrast to the popular fast-and-fresh, order-at-the counter concept. Many restaurants are moving away from the full-service model to save labor costs.

The Davis diner’s hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. if you want to swipe a bite before it closes.

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Davis just became a little less tasty. Tasty Palace closed.

The restaurant at 403 G St. filled the space last occupied by Village Pizza & Grill. Village’s Aziz Fattahi still owns the property.

Fattahi confirmed that a new tenant took over the lease at the end of February. The city has a business license – filed last month – for Cui Ji Chongqing Hot Pot. I left a message this morning for the name listed on the license application, Danni Guo, but did not immediately hear back.

Tasty Palace opened in September 2023, serving Chinese food. I noted then how Davis was becoming very tasty. We’re now down to four restaurants with “Tasty” in their name: Pho Tasty Vietnamese, Tasty Gourmet Chinese, Tasty Kitchen Chinese and Tasty Pot Taiwanese hot pot.

I’ll fill you in when I have more information about the new restaurant.

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