Friday Food Bites: Littleton’s Market Bakery, Sweetgreen, Sweeney’s Tavern, Near East Cafe Open

There’s always a lot going on in the Columbus restaurant world! Here’s the latest:

• Littleton’s Market Bakery debuted this morning in downtown North Market! An extension of Littleton’s Market in Upper Arlington, the market bakery is taking over the former Omega Artisan Baking space, which closed last November after owner Amy Lozier retired. The market stall offers breads and pastries from chef Aaron Close (who started the program at Parable Coffee) and baker Desi Vazquez. Read the full story of Littleton’s Market Bakery here!
• Speaking of the North Market: this week the downtown venue announced the opening of Macelleria North Market butcher shop. The east side bakery is partnering with existing COLO Burger Bar and COLO Oyster Bar to expand the market’s meat selection. It is scheduled to open next week.
• Los Angeles-based restaurant Sweetgreen is opening its first location in Columbus next Wednesday, September. 4 at 700 N. High St. in the Short North. The chain, which launched in 2007 and now includes more than 230 locations nationwide, is known for its menu of seasonal salads, protein plates, hot bowls and sides.
• Last night Sweeney’s Walnut Street Tavern, a new neighborhood watering hole from Jim Sweeney, Franklinton’s unofficial mayor. It is the first in a series of businesses coming to a number of former homes; is open seven days a week at 500 W. Walnut St.
• The Near East Cafe celebrated its grand opening at 1600 E. Long St. last week. The cafe is a collaboration between Too Good Eats and Food Leads and serves coffee, breakfast and lunch. The cafe is housed within the Ohio State Public Health Center’s Business Incubator in the former Columbus MLK Metropolitan Library branch.
• After being closed for several months due to a fire, gluten-free bakery Biscuits By Daddy-O has reopened its storefront at 821 E. Long St. at King-Lincoln.
• Business first broke the news this week that a Voodoo Brewing location will open in the Short North this fall in the former Mouton/DeVine on High space.
• The Roosters location at 3370 Olentangy Rd. shared that they will be closed for an extended period of time due to a fire.
• The owners of Victorian Village Market have announced they are opening a companion location, called Grandview Bottle Shop, at 1761 W. Fifth Ave. on Sept. 20.
• The first Columbus location of the Mochinut chain will open soon at 995 W. Fifth Ave.
• Due to upcoming construction near Ohio State’s campus, the Bier Stube will close after September. 21. Stube has been around since 1966!

Some upcoming events!

• Next week Wednesday, Sept. 4, Columbus Food Adventures is hosting a Taste of Kurdistan dinner at the newly opened Silav Cafe & Grill downtown. You can get tickets from their website!
• This weekend, the owners of Butcher & Grocer will donate 10% of the proceeds from sales of their Cincinnati Chili Dogs to the Joe Burrow Foundation, which supports children experiencing food insecurity.
• This weekend from Friday to Monday, Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 is the annual Columbus Greek Festival!
• It’s Obetz Zucchini Fest all this weekend.

This week I also write:

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