Sunday, May 31, 2009

• The landmark building that housed The Deli Restaurant for more than 50 years now has a new tenant after sitting vacant since May 2007.

• Eat-n-Grinn restaurant opened about a month ago in the peach building at 926 Simonton St., on the corner of Truman Avenue. The restaurant, an offshoot of the Eat-n-Grinn takeout store on the corner of Eaton and Grinnell streets -- hence the name -- is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

The eatery specializes in barbecue dishes like those served at the original location.

"Basically, it's the same as my other store; I do barbecue for lunch and dinner. I incorporate some barbecue into my breakfast," owner John Long said.

Long and his business partner, Barbara Seaman, also acquired the recipe for The Deli's famous biscuits and gravy, which can be found on the Eat-n-Grinn menu, along with simpler breakfast items and the ribs and eggs platter, among others.

"The most expensive thing I have on the breakfast menu is $7.95, so we kept the prices as low as we possibly could," Long said.

The new Eat-n-Grinn is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Delivery is available as late as midnight. Call 305-296-3777 for more information.

• The Kooler, a new hookah lounge at 508 Southard St., is gaining popularity among those looking for a new kind of place to socialize in town.

Patrons have their choice of dozens of flavors of shisha, the fruit and molasses-infused tobacco that is smoked in the hookahs. The tobacco is tar and nicotine free. Tobaccoless varieties also are available.

"It's not like a cigarette or a cigar," owner Britannie Wesley said.

The Kooler markets itself as an alternative to the bar scene, especially for those ages 18 to 20.

"We actually kind of look at ourselves as an alternative to drinking," Wesley said of the business, which she co-owns with Jason Miller. "It's something else to do in Key West."

It's also a place for people to come and wind down after a night at the bar, she said.

The Kooler is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Call 407-929-3064 or visit http://www.thekoolerhookahlounge.com. The lounge plans to add live music and teas in the near future.

• TIB Bank recently announced plans to begin renovating its Key Largo branch, at 99451 Overseas Highway. The makeover, which includes an updated facade and landscaping, are expected to begin in June.

The improvements are expected to be completed in July. During the six-week construction period, access to the office and drive-through facilities will be clearly marked for customer convenience.

"TIB Bank's Key Largo branch has been around since March 1, 1978," said President and CEO Mike Carrigan. "These substantial renovations reaffirm our commitment to the community and the customers we serve. The improvements to the branch will allow for a better customer experience."

Anne-Margaret Swary is The Citizen's business editor. Her column runs exclusively each Sunday. She can be reached at amswary@keysnews.com.