Preparing to open inside The Pearl in downtown Fort Wayne, Crescendo Coffee & Café is set to welcome their first guests in September when the multi-use building opens on West Main Street. 

Like its sister company, Crescendo Coffee & More in Quimby Village, this new location at 248 W. Main Street will offer a variety of fresh, locally sourced food and drink options. 

However, Crescendo Coffee & Café will distinguish itself as its own unique experience. It will introduce a new lineup of signature drinks, some that customers can’t find anywhere else and others which aim to take advantage of downtown Fort Wayne’s DORA trail. 

The coffee shop will be open seven days a week.

Open positions include managers, supervisors, baristas, line cooks, and prep cooks. Anyone interested can apply at crescendocoffeecafe.com/careers.

Crescendo Coffee & Café will share more than 12,000 square feet of first-floor commercial space with Ducky’s at The Pearl, a full-service restaurant with duckpin bowling, and Amore: Italian, Steak & Seafood, a new fine-dining restaurant. 

More details about Amore are set to be released this month.

First Watch moving into Jefferson Pointe

A national chain is moving into Jefferson Pointe. First Watch has announced plans to move into space at 4541 Illinois Road by the end of the year.

The store will feature an indoor/outdoor bar with seating of more than 170. It will offer made-to-order breakfast and lunch options such as its signature Avocado Toast, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, and Million Dollar Bacon. 

The focus is on fresh food with no heat lamps or microwaves. An interesting twist: the restaurant switches out their menus for each season. According to their website, flavors and ingredients draw inspiration from the earth’s rotation around the sun. 

The company have 500 stores in 29 states, including Indianapolis and Carmel.

New Indian eatery opens on Brooklyn

Chalo India Bites, 2001 Brooklyn Ave., bring another Indian option to Fort Wayne. 

Opening this month, they boast authentic ingredients that capture the Indian experience.

For now, it’s carry-out only, so you can enjoy curries, eggs, masala, or plain crêpes known as dosa at home or anywhere else you desire. They also offer puris, vada, samosas, and snacks such as bajji. 

Chai booth joins YLNI Farmers Market

Fans of masala chai can find it at the upstart Masala Wala Chai booth at the YLNI Farmers Market each Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Barr Street. 

It’s operated by Holly Sutter, who says the key is using ultra-high-quality spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom. 

They also offer kits to make the tea at home. 

Crash closes Texas Roadhouse in Warsaw

Texas Roadhouse along State Road 15 in Warsaw is temporarily closed following a fatal crash last weekend. 

A semi crashed into the building, killing the driver, although nearly a dozen employees inside were unharmed. 

Authorities estimated damage at more than $100,000. 

Off the Eaten Path is the Whatzup weekly column that covers Northeast Indiana’s restaurant and food news. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.