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Since reopening in 2003, the J. Douglas Galyon Depot has become a quintessential downtown transportation hub, buzzing with city and long-distance buses arriving and departing all day, passenger trains making daily stops and cabs waiting for the next fare. But, aside from Katie Darnley, who has diligently manned her hot dog cart at the rear of the bus depot in all sorts of weather, the facility has had little to offer in the way of concessions beyond vending machines.

That changed last week when Carolina Blues Coffee & Bagels (285-7490) opened off the rotunda of the depot's historic main building, built in 1927 at 236 E. Washington St.

The shop sells espresso drinks and flavored coffees, smoothies, teas and bottled drinks. Prepackaged breakfast and lunch sandwiches are offered, and bagels, salads, Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Hungry Howie's pizza are delivered fresh daily.

Jeelan Jones operates the shop. Jones, who has worked in youth counseling for more than 10 years and once ran her own nonprofit, says the decision to open the shop was "one of those light-bulb moments."

"This is it," she says. "This is where I am supposed to be."

She has always wanted to open a coffee shop, and she believes Carolina Blues is a good fit for the facility and the community. She welcomes the interaction she has with a lot of young people catching buses and trains.

Kim Thore, a real estate broker with the city of Greensboro, also believes the shop is a good fit.

"I think it was always meant to be there," she says.

At one point during the evolution of the depot's renaissance, a restaurant had been considered for the facility. But a full-fledged restaurant was not feasible without compromising the integrity of the historic landmark, Thore says.

The shop has table seating, a lounge area with a faux fireplace and free WiFi. Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

A grand opening is planned for 4 p.m. July 7.

Fire closes restaurant

The water-streaked sign in the window reads: "We'll be closed July 1-5 for vacation. Will reopen for business on 6th. Happy July 4th."

But, sadly, Ly's Vietnamese Restaurant (4715-A High Point Road) in Greensboro will be closed a lot longer than that.

The popular restaurant sustained significant damage from a morning fire Saturday as owner Truong Nguyen was preparing for lunch.

The family-owned restaurant once was located on South Elm Street before moving to High Point Road in 1998.

Nguyen estimates it could be anywhere from two to five months before he is able to reopen.

Reidsville gets coffee shop

Reidsville has a new coffee shop.

WayCup Coffee (394-4836, www.waycupcoffee.com) and Wine Bar has opened at 8460 N.C. 87 next to Mom's Kitchen near Wentworth and Rockingham Community College.

In addition to espresso drinks and smoothies, the shop offers salads, quiche, sandwiches, muffins, bagels and other baked goods including pies, cheesecake and cookies. Ice cream is available.

The shop, owned by Wayne and Kayren Jenkins, also offers locally produced beer and wine.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A free wine tasting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Flat Topped Grill opening

In recent years, the intersection of Walker and Elam avenues in Greensboro has become home to three new restaurants. The longtime business district at the heart of historic Lindley Park neighborhood will be home to a fourth: The Flat Topped Grill (2206 Walker Ave.).

Emmett Morphis of Fincastles and his wife, Lee, will open the restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Key Barber Shop.

The Flat Topped Grill is modeled after the Shake Shack, a chain of popular walk-up burger and shake joints in New York City, and will offer burgers, hot dogs, fries, ice cream and milkshakes.

The grill also will offer New Orleans-style snow cones of finely shaved ice topped with syrups imported from the Crescent City.

The Flat Topped Grill, which is expected to open later this summer, will offer indoor and outdoor seating and a walk-up window.

Second Thai location open

The folks who opened Singha Thai on High Point Road in Greensboro last fall have opened Singha II Thai Bistro (882-9160) at 2401 Penny Road in High Point.

Some specialties include Bangkok Chicken, Bangkok Fish, chicken in peanut sauce, Pra Ram and Duck Curry.

Singha II Thai offers a selection of traditional curries, fried rice and noodle dishes and stir-fried items such as eggplant, ginger or basil. Most dishes come with a choice of meat, vegetables or tofu.

There also are traditional soups, salads and appetizers, such as a Thai Dumpling.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9:30 p.m. daily.

Bakery closes temporarily

The bad news: If a cup of coffee and a muffin or a loaf of bread to go from Spring Garden Bakery and Coffeehouse (1932 Spring Garden St., Greensboro) is on your daily itinerary, you'll have to look elsewhere next week.

The bakery will be closed for renovations July 3-11.

The good news: When the bakery reopens, it will have gained about 300 feet of adjacent space and will have a new, customer-friendly floor plan.

New cafe for showroom

The Cafe has replaced Bear Rock Cafe as a dining option at Furnitureland South, 5635 Riverdale Drive in Jamestown.

The Cafe is on the first floor of the showroom building and offers breakfast, burgers, specialty sandwiches, hand-cut fries, fresh salads, homemade desserts and a children's menu. Most items cost from $3 to $5.

The Cafe joins Starbucks Coffee as dining options for showroom guests. Hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Bottled tea wins award

For the second year in a row, KimBees (www.kimbees.com) gourmet sweet tea has taken home awards from the World Tea Championship.

The championship was held at the World Tea Expo in Las Vegas earlier this month. KimBees bottled tea won the first-place award for Iced Tea Class Ready-to-Drink Best Packaging for its Almond Gourmet Sweet Tea.

The bottled tea was created by Kimberly Brown who operates KimBees (877-546-2337), a retail shop for the tea, assorted coffees, cookies and other items at 317 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Greensboro's Southside neighborhood.

Lunch specials offered

Tex and Shirley's Family Restaurant (708 Pembroke Road; 299-9315) at Friendly Center in Greensboro is offering summer lunch specials ($4.99-$6.79 with drink) that include five new wraps, such as grilled chicken or buffalo chicken, and four new salads, such as a tropical fruit salad.

Lunch specials are served 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Benefit offers cheap lunch

Get lunch for 98 cents when Simon 98.7 FM presents Picnic in the Plaza from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at Mendenhall Transportation Terminal, 210 E. Commerce St. in High Point.

Proceeds from the event benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation. Parking is available at Showplace.

Summer menu offerings

Suddenly This Summer is a new seasonal menu being served at Lucky 32 (1421 Westover Terrace, Greensboro; 370-0707). It offers items such as Heirloom Tomatoes with fresh vinaigrette ($9), Grilled Peaches stuffed with Goat Lady Chevre ($9), Chilled Cucumber-Avocado Soup ($3 cup, $5 bowl), Carolina Caught Shrimp and Okra ($19), Mississippi Delta Hot Tamales ($16) and Braised Pork Shoulder ($20).

Sides ($3) include Fried Grit Cake, Pintos and Chow Chow, Deviled Eggs and Benton's Ham.

Visit www.lucky32.com for a complete menu.

And Chop House at Mendenhall (4001 Meeting Way; 841-7156) in High Point is offering some new menu items.

They include Lobster Mac and Cheese, North Carolina Rainbow Trout, Tuna BLT, Crab Cake Melt and five new burgers and chicken sandwiches.

New desserts include Banana Pecan Cake and Pineapple Coconut Cake.

Chop House also is again offering the signature Chateaubriand 18-ounce center-cut Angus beef, presented tableside with two sides.

Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or carl.wilson@news-record.com