For the past two years Riley Greider and Donald Brown have been operating Sugar Mountain Bake Shoppe without the shop. They've operated a virtual bakery at the Public Market, and rented out commercial spaces like restaurant kitchens and even churches in an attempt to keep their business afloat. They wanted to start their own storefront, but like many small business, they lacked the huge amount of capital required to do so. Earlier this year they were about to throw in the towel, and they mentioned their intentions to Maureen Becker, owner of La-Tea-Da Tea Room & Parlor on Alexander Street, where their specialty cupcakes were often featured.

"I panicked," says Becker. "Their cupcakes are too good, and I couldn't imagine them going out of business, so I decided to think outside of the recession box and make them an offer."

La-Tea-Da, whose clientele is described by Becker as mostly women, many of whom live off of their 401Ks, was also struggling in the poor economy. So she decided to offer Greider and Brown half of her shop in an effort to cut her operating costs, and provide them with a desperately needed storefront.

"It was one of those ‘one door closes, another one opens' things," says Greider. "A lot of people have the dream to start their own business but lack the money. This is an opportunity for both of our businesses to not just survive, but thrive."

The newly branded joint-venture storefront, which just celebrated its grand opening last Saturday, is being labeled La-Tea-Da by day and Sugar Mountain Bake Shoppe by night. Each of the shops has its own space with very different décor: La-Tea-Da has kept its formal setup while Sugar Mountain Bake Shoppe has remodeled its room into more of an urban-chic coffee house.

Sugar Mountain will serve its signature cupcakes, rotating among its 40 crème-filled flavors daily, plus coffee, espresso, and light foods like salads, wraps, and paninis. La-Tea-Da will continue to focus on its 62 loose-leaf teas and cake-style scones (one of which was just sent to Rachael Ray).

"We really hope we can inspire other businesses," says Greider. "Sometimes you have to be willing to take a blind leap of faith and hope you land on your feet."

La-Tea-Da and Sugar Mountain Bake Shoppe are located at 258 Alexander St. La-Tea-Da is open Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday-Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday noon-4 p.m. For more information call 262-4450. Sugar Mountain Bake Shoppe is open Tuesday-Thursday 5-11 p.m., and Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-midnight. For more information, visit sugarmountainbakeshoppe.com.

The Distillery menu changes

Local chain The Distillery (1142 Mt Hope Ave; 3010 Winton Rd S; 300 Paddy Creek Circle) has significantly updated its menu with a new look and several new dishes. The re-worked menu now features burgers and steaks made from all-natural beef, 100 percent free of steroids, antibiotics, and hormones, says owner Peter Psyllos. It's a distinction that sets his restaurants apart from others in the Rochester area.

"This is obviously the direction we are taking things, in terms of being more environmentally conscious about what we do," says Psyllos. "We are looking at our entire operations - our disposables, how we recycle, how we rotate - all in an effort to make The Distillery a greener place."

Gluten-free diners will also appreciate the restaurants' new gluten-free menu, featuring soups, salads, burgers, and pizzas.

Additionally, the chain plans to open a fourth location in Victor early next year at 10 Square Drive, previously occupied by Bellini's Italian Eatery.

To view The Distillery's new menu, visit thedistillery.com.

Benucci's re-opens

Benucci's (3349 Monroe Ave, Pittsford Plaza) re-opened this month after being closed for seven weeks of renovations. The remodeling, described by owner Peter Geyer as "a complete gut of the old restaurant," features a new wine bar, a fireplace, a new dining room, and even a new bathroom. In addition, the Italian restaurant has changed about 30 percent of its menu, and now offers mix-and-match combos for lunch (diners can combine half paninis or half pizzas with a soup or salad), and two new signature dinner entrees, slow-cooked short ribs over risotto and gorgonzola biscetta (twin filets, portabella mushrooms, spinach, and gorgonzola over angel hair). For more information, visit benuccis.com or call 264-1300.

Closings

Triphammer Grill owner Jennifer Powers has announced that the restaurant will close its doors permanently on November 20. For the past 16 years, Triphammer Grill has been an institution in the High Falls area, offering alfresco dining and reasonably priced upscale fare. The closing is also significant, as Triphammer Grill was the last remaining restaurant standing in the High Falls district, with Jimmy Macs closing down earlier this year. Coffee house Spin Caffe and nightclub Tribeca are the only two bar/eating establishments remaining in the area.

Powers released this statement in an e-mail about the closing: "I have chosen not to renew our lease for the Triphammer Grill space. I are [sic] very proud of everything that myself and my staff have accomplished but I have decided that it is time to move on. We would like to thank all of our customers for their continued support over the years."

Plaka (687 Moseley Rd, Fairport) has closed after just recently changing its name from Mykonos Café this past summer. A sign on the window simply reads "seized," while the restaurant's website only states "Mykonos Restaurant is closed, Thank you for your patronage." Attempts to reach the owner for details surrounding the abrupt closing were unsuccessful.

Agatina's Halloween treat

Before you take your kids out to trick-or-treat this Saturday, October 31, treat your wallet by bringing them to Agatina's Restaurant (2967 Buffalo Rd, Gates) between 4 and 6 p.m. for a free pasta or chicken finger dinner. The free meal is being offered with the purchase of an adult meal. For more information, visit agatinas.com or call 426-0510.