A relaxed atmos-phere and good Italian foods are the themes of Bada Bing’s Italian Deli & Market and the Wine Grotto Restaurant. Combining deli products on one side of the building and the restaurant on the other, the business opened last week at 702 E. Prairie Ave., Hayden.

Bada Bing’s is in the building that formerly housed Paul’s Deli and Danaan’s Deli, with the latter having moved west to Prairie at Government Way.

Originally from Priest River, Dan Duley married K.C., whose Italian and Sicilian relatives passed on several recipes from restaurants the family has in the Northeast.

The deli/market side of the business offers Italian subs, soups, sauces, cookies, meatballs and breadbowls. Italian import items, such as foods and candies, will be added.

The Wine Grotto has seating for 24 customers with reservation dinners at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Patrons can choose from two four-course dinners with the entrees changing weekly and prices ranging from $17 to $22.

Deli hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and wine tasting is from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Bada Bing’s has six employees and also hosts parties. Phone 762-8544.

New Pita Pit place

Pita Pit plans a new restaurant for the west wing of Prairie Shopping Center, on Prairie Avenue near Highway 95. Plans are for the 1,308-square-foot facility to open Feb. 1 with 10-15 employees.

The hot or cold pita-bread sandwiches combine any of about 30 veggies, meats, cheeses and sauces with salads and drinks, delivery and catering. Leaning toward a family-oriented neighborhood, the Prairie place hours will be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Originally from San Antonio, owners John and Leigh Jane Lyman came to North Idaho eight years ago from Hawaii. He has retired as administrative nursing supervisor with Deaconess Medicial Center in Spokane.

With Pita Pit USA’s headquarters in Coeur d’Alene and owned by the Jack Riggs family, the company now has 80 restaurants in the United States and about 40 in development. Most are in college environments, with new places opening in January near Gonzaga University and later in 2006 near Eastern Washington University. They’re already open in Pullman and Moscow.

The downtown Coeur d’Alene facility is used for training, and the headquarters offices in January will be relocating to the second floor of the former Penny Candy Store building (soon to be a Brix sports tavern) at Sherman Avenue and Fourth Street. Check the pitapitusa.com Web site.

Lakeshore Decor opens

Also on the north side of town, upscale furniture and design services are the specialty of Lakeshore Decor Furniture & Interiors. The business celebrated its grand opening last week in Country Plaza Shoppes at 9297 Government Way.

The 1,500-square-foot showroom displays fine furniture, mostly leather and contemporary. Custom-ordered items include silk drapes, natural-fiber rugs, and kitchen and bathroom cabinets and accessories.

Owners are Coeur d’Alene natives and sisters Melissa Cheney and Genca Sakwi. Cheney has extensive design education and experience, while Sakwi brings office expertise to the business.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and Saturday by appointment. Phone 762-5069 and check lakeshoredecor.com.