After nearly four years, the Black Sea Tattoo shop has packed up its ink and needles and moved on. The shop, operated by Bulgarian native Stefan Kalpaktchiev (pronounced kal-PAK-chee-eff), opened for business at 105 First St. in February 2013.
On Oct. 19, Stefan and his artists left town and immediately relocated to the old Sacks Department Store building at 131 W. Manlius St., in East Syracuse.
“We needed more space,” explained Black Sea’s body-piercing artist, Mona Leah Ridgeway. “It was getting kind of cramped on First Street.” For Black Sea Tattoo info, dial 214-4208.
That prime First Street location is now available for lease. If you’re interested, contact Hunt realtor Dana Crocker at 622-5040.
Artisan Chair alternative
If you want your skin inked in the village, however, you can still get it done — by appointment only — at the Artisan Chair, 612 Oswego St., near the corner of Tulip. The Artisan Chair, owned by artist Matt Tyszka, promises “distinguished ink for fine people.” For an appointment, call 214-8947, or visit theartisanchair.com.
Another darkened storefront
Meanwhile, down the block at 205 First St., the stone building which house the offices of eye doctors Tom Wells and Richard Fuller and Ron Trinca’s photography studio is also available for sale or lease. Interested parties should call Anderson Partners at 457-2872.
Cups-n-Cakes Café
Over on Old Liverpool Road, baker Debbie Russell has opened the Cups-n-Cakes Bakery & Café, in the old Poorhouse North strip mall in Galeville. Her quaint little shop at 500 Old Liverpool Road has a handful of small tables, a couple of big easy chairs and a water cooler, and the menu offers top-notch baked goods, Paul de Lima coffee, sodas, sandwiches and soups.
But Debbie’s creative baking talents are what will keep customers coming back for more. Her three-berry cupcakes and apple brownies thoroughly delighted us when we stopped in last week. The big chocolate brownies, pumpkin loaves, chocolate chip cookies and apple fritter cakes all looked delectable. By the way, for those of you with allergies, all of Debbie’s products are made “nut-free.”
Debbie also whips up mini blueberry Bundt cakes, half moon cookies, cherry pie bars, little brownie balls, banana cakes, dipped marshmallow pops for kids and Halloween-themed brownies topped with orange white chocolate.
Take a look at Debbie’s colorful confections at facebook.com/cupsncakes4u. If you like what you see or want to order a custom cake or holiday delights, give her a jingle at 453-CAKE.
Cups-N-Cakes opened this month and Debbie plans a grand opening soon, perhaps as early as Nov. 3. “This is my first venture,” she told me, “so I’m taking my time and doing it right.”
Chowder weather
As the chill descends upon us, it’s time for a nice hot cuppa soup or chowder.
The Village Burger, at 920 Old Liverpool Road, is now ladling out its creamy cheeseburger soup guaranteed to stick to your ribs. The burger joint also serves a slightly spicy chili con carne; 565-5324.
And over the Fish Company in Ponderosa Plaza, Cosimo is now dishing out his super-fresh clam chowder. A pound of chowder costs $3.99, but you can order a smaller serving if you’d like; 457-9839.
Retreat report
The new restaurant manager at The Retreat is the tall and handsome John Fassinger, who worked his way up as a longtime waiter there.
Earlier this month, veteran waitress Melissa Hamm became an interior decorator for a day, transforming The Retreat into an autumnal spectacle with fall foliage and pumpkin imagery and string lighting lining the walls.
Melissa calls herself the wait staff’s “mother hen.” She has worked at The Retreat, at 302 Vine St., for 11 years; retreatrestaurant.com; 457-6358.
The columnist can be contacted at [email protected].
