Another Billings Restaurant Closing, But Is There Good News?

Working downtown, Pita Pit on 2nd Avenue N was one of my go-to restaurants for a quick, delicious, affordable lunch. I'd walk from our offices down the street about once a month to grab lunch (classic gyro, double meat was always my order). So I was pretty bummed to hear they closed in December. "One less place to eat downtown", I thought sadly. Pita Pits Grand Ave location remains open.

Here's the good news... a new restaurant is taking over the space.

Downtown Billings Alliance shared a post on social media Tuesday (1/2), announcing the exciting news that a new restaurant will soon be taking over the former downtown Pita Pit location. They wrote,

The new year brings with it changes. We are excited to share that a new locally owned Döner Kabab restaurant coming to downtown in the former Pita Pit space.

I was unfamiliar with what Doner Kebab is all about, and when I mentioned it to a coworker today, she was thrilled. "OMG, they're everywhere in Europe! I had Doner Kebab in Germany and it's amazing!", she exclaimed. Sending me this picture (below).

 What is Doner Kebab?

Food blogger Ethan Cheblowski calls this style of food "Germany's most popular street food", gushing, "...in my opinion, one of the greatest sandwiches I’ve ever eaten. Each bite is almost a spiritual experience that gets better and better." Now I'm even more excited to give it a try.

The Coming Soon sign in the window reads "Mediterranean soul shwarma and doner". These gyro-like sandwiches of Turkish origin are most commonly made with lamb, chicken, or beef. No word on an opening date for the new restaurant downtown. However, if we had to speculate, perhaps sometime late in the first quarter?

Progress on another downtown move.

You may have heard the news that Yesteryears Antiques is moving to make way for a new downtown highrise. The 85 vendors of the fun antique mall are relocating to the basement of the former Hart Albin building (now the DA Davidson building) just steps from Skypoint.

We peaked into the building today and while we couldn't see much with the construction paper covering most of the lower level, it appeared that the remodel of the lower level of the gorgeous old building is well underway.