"I had the opportunity to have a lot nicer building," said owner Genia Smith.

With the move, Smith went from 1,350 square feet at the old Durham Bulls souvenir store, 426 Morris St., to about 4,000 square feet in the old Nu-Tread Tire building.

What's more, it was almost free: she essentially swapped buildings with Measurement Inc., paying each other $1.35 million.

With the swap, and a couple of other recent purchases, Measurement Inc. now owns a block of land along Morris Street across from its headquarters in the old BC Powder factory -- all except a narrow strip of city-owned park land facing Durham Central Park.

"That's been a goal of ours," said Measurement Inc. president Hank Scherich. "We're looking at development."

Scherich said he doesn't know what his company will do with its acquisition, but its development might be more space for itself.

"If we continue to grow, we're going to have to look to build something for ourselves."

Framed

Bull City Art & Frame Co. is opening shortly at Brightleaf Square -- in the Main Street-side building near Taverna Nikos.

Brightleaf spokeswoman Sandra Masters said its grand opening is planned April 5, to coincide with the Durham Art Walk, but "They'll probably open a few days before."

Owners Lewis and Tiffany Bowles have a 2,000-square foot space to serve as gallery as well as shop and office. Their business is also going to offer custom mirrors, photo restoration, shadowboxes and some other services.

Brightleaf, by the way, is also starting its 2008 weekend concert series April 5. Opening act is jazz and swing by Janet Stolp & Friends, noon to 2 p.m.

Most other shows are on Fridays. For the schedule, see www.historicbrightleaf.com/news/index.html.

Gourmet groceries

The soon-to-come University Marketplace living-shopping center near South Square has landed a grocery store. Poppies Gourmet Farmers Market in Brevard is opening a second store, 20,000 square feet in the Shannon Road project where construction is supposed to start sometime this year.

When complete, the center is supposed to have 320 residential units and 112,000 square feet on 15 acres that used to be the Regency Plaza shopping center.

Books must go

BookDabbler, in Loehmann's Plaza on Hillandale Road, is holding a Spring Cleaning Sale March 13-15. Prices on paperbacks and selected hardbacks drop each day of the sale -- from $3 and $2, respectively, to $2 and $1, to $1 and 50 cents. Some gift items and 2008 calendars have prices cut, too.

World women

One World Market, 811 Ninth St., is observing International Women's Day today with henna tattoos free with each purchase and visiting representatives from companies whose products the shop retails. Among them are Anne and Francis Kioko of Kenya Fair Traders in Durham and Stacey Furguson of Jinja Jewels in Raleigh.

Caribbean on Duke

A Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery is coming to North Duke Crossing shopping center, on the Duke Street side near Kerr Drugs. This is the first Triangle location for the New York restaurant chain, which serves Caribbean cuisine such as jerk chicken, goat and Jamaican patties (meat-filled pastries) along with cakes, rolls and breads.

Un-wired

According to Downtown Durham Inc., wi-fi service is available on the CCB Plaza at Corcoran and Chapel Hill streets. The network name is "marketsquareplaz."