Spring is here, with warmer weather, colorful flowers and exciting business news in our neighborhood.
A new pizza place, Atomic Pie, has opened on the corner of Walnut Hill and Audelia. It’s an American take on the traditional Italian delicacy. Owners Chris Schwab, Tim Cole (who used to work at Campisi’s) and Craig Allen say the pizza will be reasonably priced. Some of the menu items include several different salads, wings and sliders (mini burgers). The thin crust will remind customers of Campisi’s, the owners say, but the unique, mid-century modern ambiance of the restaurant plays on Atomic Pie’s “take cover” logo. 214.553.5733, atomicpie.com, 9660 Audelia.
CrossFit FCH is participating in Warrior Dash April 16 at 2 p.m. at the DFW Adventure Park in Roanoke, Texas. For anyone interested, gym participants will run together for the 3.24-mile obstacle course. The 11 obstacles include jumping over a small fire pit, and climbing over tire vines and hay bales. Registration is $65 and includes a race number bib, T-shirt, warrior helmet (a Viking helmet), an electronic chip timer and one free beer ticket. On April 23 at 9 a.m., the gym is offering a free relay style of its traditional workout of the day. CrossFit FCH stands for functional movements, constantly varied and high intensity, and is family-owned and -operated by husband and wife Donovan and Stephanie Berrier and their brother-in-law, Micah Shockley. It is the third CrossFit facility in our neighborhood; the other two gyms are CrossFit Lake Highlands on Audelia, and CrossFit Heat on Judd Court and Forest. 214.770.8426, crossfitfch.com, 11072 Grader.
Divine Coffee Shop has been under new ownership for a year, but the new owners, husband and wife Jose Ramirez and Josefina Orozco, recently began renovating the space and will rename the business Divine Family Restaurant. Ramirez says they have already installed new air conditioning units, but other changes will happen slowly. “We’re already working on getting new carpet, but we’re going to do it little by little,” Ramirez says. Divine will host a grand re-opening, but no date has been set, and Ramirez says one of the many things to come is a company website. 214.221.4659, 10233 E. Northwest Highway.
Cultivar Coffee and Tea Company is adding three new coffee options to its list: Rwanda Musasa, Guatemala Finca Santa Clara and Brazil Capao. The coffee, which can be ordered online, is mailed every Thursday and is roasted to order. The company will also start offering teas for sale: black, green, white, Oolong, Rooibos and herbal infusion. Cultivar was created by owners Jonathan Meadows and Nathan Shelton, former baristas at White Rock Coffee. The co-owners will also compete in the South Central Regional Barista Competition from March 31-April 3 in St. Louis, Mo. The competition challenges the skills and technique of baristas from several states in the southern United States. cultivarcoffee.com.
The Store in Lake Highlands celebrated its ninth anniversary last month, and this month from April 7-9 The Store will hold a Ming Wang fall trunk show. Customers can visit the shop and order items, which will be delivered in time for the fall season. A rack of samples will allow customers to try on the clothes before ordering. “What ends up happening when I go to market is, I order what I think I should have in my store, but sometimes people like things that I don’t order,” owner Cheryl Calvin says, “so this is a way they can get a personalized wardrobe.” On April 1, the shop invites all local graduates in the area, both high school and college, to come in for a pizza and graduation wish list party. The wish list party is in preparation for the April 15 trunk show featuring Jon Hart, a designer from San Antonio, who makes coated canvas and leather travel accessories and handbags. 214.553.8850, thestoreinlh.com, 10233 E. Northwest Highway.
Wholesome Foods Bakery will help sponsor and participate April 30 in the seventh annual Lake Highlands Junior Women’s League fundraiser, Run the Highlands. Co-owner Taylor Nicholson says the bakery will set up a booth to give away samples of its gluten-free treats, including food bars, wfb mix (a sweet and spicy snack mix of corn and rice puffs) and nuts. The bakery also will feature samples of its newest version of the wfb mix. The shop recently expanded its weekend hours: Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 214.414.2414, wholesomefoodsbakery.com, 718 N. Buckner.
Highland Park Cafeteria has a new HPC Market, which offers healthier, chilled food to go. Some of the meals include: made-to-order salads, vegetables with light seasoning, tenderloin, roasted chicken breast, seafood, and artisan bread and desserts. The restaurant will also provide food such as sandwiches, salads, smoothies, guacamole, brownies, cookies and sodas for all 38 of the Dallas Arboretum’s Concerts in the Garden this year. The concerts will begin April 19 with the band Emerald City and run through October. Food can be pre-ordered on the website or purchased at the concert. 214.324.5000, highlandparkcafeteria.com, 1200 N. Buckner.
