As of Tuesday, owner Doug Pearce said Over the Falls Deli will open for lunch Thursday, Jan. 26, in its new location in Renaissance Place.
            “We should get our CO (Certificate of Occupancy) today, and we have a few things to finish up here.” Pearce said the popular restaurant might be open on a limited basis Wednesday night.
            The totally reworked and configured space – home in the past to several restaurants, most recently The Seafood Shack – has 120 seats for customers in booths, at tables and at the bar. The original space behind The Cotton Company and across an extension of East Owen Avenue from B&W Hardware had 45 seats and a small kitchen. There is an area at the front with sliding glass doors which can be closed in the winter, open in the summer, providing a comfortable patio.
            Greg Pearce, Doug’s son and co-owner, is looking forward to expanding the menu offerings, beginning with new appetizers, once they get the restaurant open and operating smoothly.
            Karen Bennion will continue as manager.
            With the restaurant open, Doug Pearce said he will turn his attention to refitting the former Crossroads Entertainment site into a bowling alley and said it would open May 1.
            When the small strip mall called Wake Forest Plaza at the corner of Brooks Street and Elm Avenue was built in the late 1970s, that large space was occupied by Winn-Dixie. Holding Drugs was in the space nearest Elm and Macks moved into the space now occupied by Classic Cars.