Biz Buzz: March 7, 2018

Grand Junction’s newest Italian restaurant is due to open Friday, bringing a new franchise to the Grand Valley.

Garlic Knot, a casual family dining restaurant that features New York-style pizza, pasta, wings, sandwiches, calzones, strombolis and salads, will open at 637 24 1/2 Road.

The location is on the south side of the Spin City building between PetSmart and Home Depot. This is the first Garlic Knot franchise to open in Grand Junction. The Denver-based restaurant first opened 15 years ago.

The restaurant does not have set closing hours, but will open at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday and 11 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Staff is preparing for a grand opening celebration one to two months down the road.

Garlic Knot features dine-in and carry-out services, catering and fundraising.

During lunch hours, the restaurant has counter service and table service with wait staff for dinner. It is starting with about 20 employees at the restaurant.

■ The Mesa Theater, a downtown landmark for more than a century, has recently undergone some improvements under its current owners.

The newest addition is a 300-foot curtain that replaced an older curtain that General Manager Rick Christensen said was about 45 to 50 years old.

The curtain cost about $5,000, but Christensen noted that staff did much of the work, which might have saved about $20,000. The curtain was finished on Friday.

This comes on the heels of some fresh paint, plumbing and electrical work, and a new sound system that helped spruce up the theater and enhance the experience of the audience. The sound system cost around $200,000, according to Christensen.

“We’re interested in having people come in and seeing something new,” Christensen said. “We’re continuously making it better for the community.”

More improvements to the outside are planned, including a new sign and facade improvements, according to Christensen.

The theater was first an opera house and dates back to 1885 on Main Street. It was later a movie theater and has been a music venue for nearly three decades.

Some recent sold-out shows include Iration, which played just after performing at the Grammy’s, Matisyahu and Tech N9ne. Upcoming shows include comedian Jim Breuer and the Reverend Horton Heat.

“We’re trying to expand ourselves into different genres,” Christensen said.

■ As part of the Honoring Wonderful Lives program at Brown’s Cremation & Funeral Service, the business is collecting new toys and crafts to be delivered to children at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

“Honoring Wonderful Lives is not just about helping families gather, remember and celebrate the lives of a loved one, it is also about honoring those among us who need our strength and support,” owner Kevin Brown said.

The public is encouraged to stop by Brown’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 904 N. Seventh St., between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to drop off gifts.

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