Brief Bits

Although there is work in progress at the future Lidl grocery store site in the southwestern corner where the N.C. 98 Bypass crosses South Main Street, Assistant Planning Director Charlie Yokley said the company does not have a building permit yet. It has been held up because the design has not been approved by the town’s Technical Design Advisory Board. “The work taking place is site work based on approved construction plans.”

* * * *

Also, although Wegmans’ developer, Columbia Development, has a contract with Southeastern Baptist Seminary to purchase an 18.75-acre site, Yokley said in an email Monday, “We have not received an application for Wegmans to date.”

Wegmans has announced plans to build in Cary and Chapel Hill and last week said it would open a 120,000-square-foot store on Wake Forest Road in Raleigh. A company spokesman did not return a request for information.

* * * *

By now every devoted fan of The Olde English Tea Room is closing Dec. 24, although Allison Esguerra and her family had hoped to sell the business to a new owner. We wish the Esguerra family all the best in the coming years.

But . . . A new family, Howard and Christine Sadel and their three children, will fulfill a long-held dream by opening the Sugar Magnolia Café & Emporium in February of next year. They say it will be a destination for coffee, tea, desserts and bites to eat, as well as a place to shop for locally created jewelry, artwork, gifts and more. You can follow the cafe on Facebook to view progress and hear more details leading up to the opening. https://www.facebook.com/sugarmagnoliacafe/.

* * * *

There will be an Open House and Holiday Gift Market Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5 and 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the studio called 727 North Main, which really is at 727 North Main. It will feature works of photography, woodworking, watercolor, pottery and jewelry. Mike and Sharon Allsbrook will be showing their work along with Debi Ordan, Gina Baran and Jody Funk and potters Nancy Redman and Joan Wood. Nancy Carth will giving painting demonstrations and a free watercolor class each day.

* * * *

Remember the distressing news the Wake Forest Town Board received in late January about more leaks in different places in town hall? Remember the experts reported at the board’s annual retreat that the repairs could cost $150,000 to $200,000? And that the first round of leak repairs cost just over $500,000?

Remember too how David Leone, the associate editor at The Wake Forest Weekly, and Carol Pelosi, the Gazette editor, had been asking for some kind of accounting about why the building’s contractor was chosen and why work was not halted when problems were discovered during construction?

Despite some differences of opinion on the part of the five commissioners, the mayor and the town manager, there was no accounting in the ensuing months. And it has not cost the town a penny to have the leaks repaired.

Town Manager Kip Padgett said in an email Monday, “After the February meeting, staff did some further investigating and was able to have the leak site repaired under warranty at no cost to the Town.”

And, as Mayor Vivian Jones said in her state of the town speech in February, “As I said at our retreat, we could scream and yell and point fingers and try to blame various people for this disappointing discovery. But it would do no good and it would just make us even more unhappy. So the best thing to do is just fix it.”

If you are interested, you can find the Feb. 3 and Feb. 17 Gazette issues with those articles in the archives. Search for town hall.

* * * *

The next Food Truck Rodeo will be held Sunday, Nov. 6, from noon to 4 p.m. in Renaissance Plaza on Brooks Street in historic downtown Wake Forest, serving up savory foods and desserts. Brooks Street Bowl will provide a beer tent. The event will be held rain or shine.

There will be a Kid’s Zone with face painting by Paint Savvy, a bouncy house, road chalk, hula hoops, ball toss and bubble fun. If you plan to stay a while, truck owners recommend bringing lawn chairs or a fold-out table for more enjoyment.

The trucks who will be in Wake Forest are Captain Ponchos Tacos, Charlie’s Kabob, Chicken Que, Dusty’s Donuts, Gussy’s Greek Street Food, Hibachi Xpress, Humble Pig, Jay’s Italian Ice, Lumpy’s Ice Cream, My Cup Overflows, Sweet Traditions and Virgil’s Jamaica.

There will also be a number of vendors with booths: Blue Green Bin Clean, Fit Body Nutrition, JPM South Development, Leaf Filter, Lularoe, Mary Kay, NC Girl Scouts, Paparazzi Accessories, Sarah’s Creative Hand Drawn Design, Scentsy, Thirty Seven Stars and Usborne Books & More.

The rodeo is sponsored by The Wake Weekly, PNC Bank, Leaf Filter, Brooks Street Bowl, Over the Falls Restaurant, Frigi-Temp and JPM South Development.