Krispy Kreme and more: Here's what happened with Fort Collins-area restaurants in March

After a long wait, Krispy Kreme has begun work on its first Fort Collins store at the former Fazoli's restaurant at 4624 S. Mason St.

The North Carolina-based chain plans to open in mid-August.

Here's a look at other goings on in the Fort Collins-area restaurant scene:

What opened

Saffron Scoops N Bites, 902 W. Drake Road, Unit 4, softly opened March 1. The fast-casual Indian eatery and ice cream shop is the latest venture for the owners of neighboring Indian grocery store Tumeric, co-owner Muthu Sampath told the Coloradoan. Saffron Scoops N Bites serves up traditional Indian meals like curry dishes, samosas and naan as well as more unique sweets like falooda — an Indian delicacy often made by mixing rose syrup, vermicelli and sweet basil seeds with milk and serving it with ice cream. Saffron Scoops N Bites takes over the former home of Vincent Gastroteca, which closed last year. It's now open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to Sampath.

Hub Cafe by Fresh Plate opened March 23 at Kinston's welcome center in Loveland. Kinston is part of Centerra located east of I-25. The Hub is open seven days a week and serves breakfast, lunch and small bites for happy hour, with plans to expand dinner options in the future. The Hub Cafe is being launched by Tracie Reeves-Harman, the owner behind Fresh Plate Catering. “The Hub building is extraordinary, and the views are breathtaking,” Reeves-Harman said in a news release. “While we’re nestled in the new Kinston community and hope to get to know residents and their families, we’re offering delicious food, drinks and a comfortable atmosphere that all Centerra, Loveland and Northern Colorado residents and visitors can also enjoy.” From fresh-pressed juice and avocado toast to charcuterie boards and signature cocktails, everything is made in-house or sourced from top-quality local bakers and artisans. The Hub Cafe by Fresh Plate is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit centerra.com/kinston/hub-cafe.

La Casita expanded its reach into Fort Collins. The Berthoud Mexican restaurant opened its second location at 1720 W. Mulberry St. on March 13, taking over the former home of City Park-area fixture Lupita's, which closed at the end of February. La Casita is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Buc-ee's opened its first Colorado location March 18. The store, located at 5201 Nugget Road in Johnstown, has 116 fueling stations; 12 electric vehicle charging stations; and fan-favorite foods like homemade fudge, Texas barbecue, kolaches, Beaver Nuggets, jerky, fresh pastries and more.

Kind Bean opened in the Poudre Canyon. Dani Grant, owner of the Mishawaka Inn, opened Kind Bean in a converted vintage Airstream at 9940 Poudre Canyon Road. It is the first amenity to launch at the upcoming Riverside Colorado Canyon Resort — the former Columbine Lodge — and the Mish's new sister company. Initially, Kind Bean will be open only on weekends but will expand as "we get our coffee legs under us," according to its website.

What closed

The Morning Grind coffee and espresso bar in the taproom at Snowbank Brewing, 225 N. Lemay Ave., closed earlier this month, about five months after opening. Owners of The Morning Grind said in a Facebook post that "despite our best efforts it seems that a coffee shop is not viable in this location." In the post, they said they were searching for a better location or new people to take over the coffee bar.

What's coming

Luna's Tacos & Tequila will open its second Northern Colorado restaurant April 1 at 1246 Automation Drive in Windsor. The first store opened in Greeley in 2018. “We believe life is best enjoyed over good food and great spirits, and that’s exactly how Luna’s story began,” said co-owner Samantha Corliss, in a news release. “We have a true respect for authenticity and a passion for creativity. We strive to source locally whenever possible, and love supporting small, local, family-owned businesses like our own.” Luna’s in Windsor will be adding some new menu items including honey adobo elotes, Nashville hot chicken chicharrones and a General Tso taco. It will also offer vegan and gluten-free choices. “With two floors, a rooftop patio with a killer view, and some exciting new large format, shareable cocktails, we’re excited to bring the coolest gathering space Northern Colorado has ever seen,” said co-owner Brian Seifried. “Community is everything to us and we couldn’t be more excited to expand the Luna’s concept and bring our tacos and tequila to even more of our friends in Northern Colorado.” The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Luna’s serves brunch on the weekends from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Dutch Bros has set its sights on Timnath. Nate Frary, who owns Northern Colorado's eight existing Dutch Bros Coffee shops with his wife, Krisanna, is proposing a new drive-thru at 4725 Weitzel St. — an undeveloped triangle of land just northwest of Timnath's Costco store, according to conceptual review plans filed with the Timnath Planning Department on Feb. 21. The proposed 920-square-foot coffee shop would have a walk-up ordering window, covered outdoor patio and double drive-thru, with drive-thru traffic entering through the site's northeastern edge, according to the plans. While noting that there are plenty of hurdles to clear ahead, Frary told the Coloradoan he hopes to have the drive-thru open by the end of the year.

Birdcall, a fast-casual fried chicken restaurant, plans to open at Foothills mall in mid- to late summer, replacing a vegan restaurant that closed in September. The restaurant has eight locations in Colorado including sites in Boulder, Colorado Springs and the Denver area. Stores are open seven days a week, generally from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., or later on weekends. According to the building permit application, renovations are expected to cost about $750,000 to install two exterior garage doors at the exit to the patio to create a more open-air feel, similar to its other locations. A new patio will be added to the two existing parking spaces.

What's going

Starbucks will close its Old Town Fort Collins coffee shop April 12 after nearly two decades at the corner of North College Avenue and Walnut Street. A corporate spokesperson said the closure is part of the company's regular review of stores to ensure all are successful. Starbucks recently opened a store just west of Laurel Street and College Avenue in the former home of Cold Stone Creamery.

Catching up

Aloha Poke & Boba, 632 S. College Ave., opened Feb. 29. The shop serves up boba, Thai and milk teas as well as poke bowls — a popular Hawaiian dish with Japanese roots that consists of meats, including sushi-grade raw fish, served on beds of rice or mixed greens. Aloha Poke & Boba takes over the retail space formerly occupied by Crazy King Burrito.

Other food news

The Taco Stop, the south Fort Collins Mexican restaurant that started out as a taco cart, serving up steak street tacos to Old Town's late-night crowd in August 2012, was named the winner of the Coloradoan's 2024 taco bracket. The Taco Stop was one of 32 taco shop and taco truck contenders.

Founders Cesar Lopez and Berenice Longoria — then just 22 and 19, respectively — were newly married and new to Fort Collins. They had sunk their savings into The Taco Stop, melding Longoria's longtime dream of owning her own business with Lopez's dream of having his own food business. Longoria ran the business side of the cart while Lopez took on the food, drawing on his upbringing and culinary education in Mexico City, according to previous Coloradoan reporting.

The couple eventually added more taco options, including chicken, pork and vegetarian tacos, Longoria said. They added a food trailer to their ranks in 2015 and transitioned to a food truck in 2017. In 2020, The Taco Stop opened the restaurant at 6324 S. College Ave.

After four years in south Fort Collins, The Taco Stop is getting ready for its next big change.

The restaurant will move from South College Avenue to the Scotch Pines Village Shopping Center later this year, taking over the former home of The Garlic Knot, Longoria said.

Longoria and Lopez plan to close the existing location at the end of May and open at the new location in early June.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins restaurants: Krispy Kreme, Starbucks make moves