More restaurants are eyeing strip-mall space due to price and the
flexibility offered by landlords, Yahoo News reported.

So-called “fast-casual” restaurants, such as Chipotle Mexican Grill,
Panera Bread and Buffalo Wild Wings, are taking advantage of available
space in suburban strip malls nationwide created by the recession.

Strip-mall space often makes sense for restaurants because they don’t
have to invest in building new locations from the ground up, and
because landlords will often allow them to customize their space
however they need to. [more]

From left: Zips Deli, Ray’s Candy Store

Danny Meyer is slated to open Public Fare, a new concession stand at Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre. A Chipotle is slated to open July 19 on 48th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues. Rehoboth Spa Lounge has leased its second Manhattan location at 126 University Place. The former Zips deli space on 5th Street and Avenue B is now Cafe Buon Gusto. Ray’s Candy Store at 113 Avenue A has reopened after being temporarily shut down by the health department. Merkato 55 is set to open under new ownership as Le 55 at 55 Gansevoort Street. In Brooklyn, Yummy Taco has opened in Park Slope at 1106 Eighth Avenue at 11th Street. Cafe Tapeo at 52 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope has become Irish pub Cyprus Avenue. In the Hamptons, a new vintage store, Nikki Eve, has opened in Sag Harbor. TRD [more]