Destiny USA

Both yogurt-lovers and wine-lovers can rejoice now that Red Mango and Ashley Lynn Winery have opened in Destiny USA.

Red Mango, located on the second level of the mall in the Canyon Area, is a frozen yogurt and snack restaurant that is best known for using “Super Biotics” — a patent strain of probiotic bacteria that supports the digestive and immune system — in its yogurt. In addition to yogurt and smoothies, Red Mango also offers fresh, cold-squeezed juices, café wraps, parfaits and salads.

“Many customers have been asking for Red Mango to come to Destiny USA,” said Sara Wallace, the director of marketing of Destiny USA, in a May 12 press release. “We’re proud to be one of the three locations they have inUpstate New York.”

Ashley Lynn Winery, located on the second level near the Center Atrium, offers apple based wines that are pressed, aged, blended and bottled just 30 minutes from Syracuse in New Haven, New York. The winery is run by the Hurlbut family, who has been growing Macintosh and Cortland apples since 1928. Its wines are famous for outstanding taste and reasonable price, and wine tastings are conducted daily at the Destiny USA location.

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s will open its first Syracuse area location at the Raymour & Flanigan plaza on Erie Boulevard Oct. 3. According to the Trader Joe’s website, the chain specializes in “innovative, hard-to-find, great-tasting foods,” and is known for an eclectic mix of products — think pumpkin butter and cranberry goat cheese. The 12,000-square-feet store will move into the spot formerly occupied by Raymour’s Sleep Center and will feature Trader Joe’s signature cedar-covered walls and Hawaiian print shirts for its crew. The store will also display art celebrating the Syracuse area.  Trader Joe’s has long been on the wish list of many Central New Yorkers as the company already has stores in Rochester, Albany and Buffalo.

La Piazza

A new Greek restaurant is now open in Armory Square. La Piazza, located at the corner of Walton and Franklin streets, offers Greek and Italian cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Owner Konstantinos “Gus” Katsiroumbas said he uses family recipes from Greece and every dish is made from scratch. In addition to Greek specialties, the menu also features pastas, salads, burgers and pizza. One of its specialty entrees is a kabob dish made with lamb, beef and pork served with pita bread and topped with Greek yogurt. There is also a full bar with 24 local and national craft beers plus wines and cocktails. La Piazza offers a cafeteria style breakfast and lunch where patrons order from the counter, then find seats in the dining rooms or outside. Dinner begins at 4 p.m. with table service and late night music on weekends. The restaurant also offers take-out and catering options.

Funk ‘n Waffles

Funk ‘n Waffles, popular for both its menu and its live music, is opening a new location downtown at Armory Square. Construction is still underway on the brand new space and, while there is not a set opening date, owner Adam Gold hopes to open soon.

“It’s my first time building a project. For the first Funk, we took over a coffee shop. This new place, we’re starting from scratch but the city has been very helpful and we haven’t run into any big issues,” he said.

Unlike the location on South Crouse Avenue, the new restaurant will feature a new full kitchen, Gold said. This will allow for more food, more items to be made from scratch and a larger menu. While the Marshall Street location typically attracts students, their families and tourists, Gold hopes to attract more Syracuse residents who typically avoid the Marshall Street area because of traffic. The larger downtown location will also feature a full bar and a larger stage with live music at least three nights a week.

Gold hopes to open the new Funk ‘n Waffles, which will be located on 307 South Clinton St. within the next eight weeks.

Published on August 20, 2014 at 1:00 am