Brightleaf Square is holding a Food & Wine Festival from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. next Saturday: a first-of-its-kind affair for the Main Street landmark, according to spokeswoman Sandra Masters.

"It's just mainly to introduce Brightleaf," she said.

The shopping center, occupying two former tobacco warehouses, opened in 1981 but underwent a major renovation three years ago. The festival site is the street-like courtyard, with four bands and 10 Brightleaf-area restaurants taking part.

"Big variety," Masters said. "Should be a lot of fun."

Musical acts are Band of Oz, Brazilian Soul, Carnavalito and Will McFarlane. Restaurants are Amelia's, Chamas Brazilian Steakhouse, Piazza Italia, Fishmongers, Down Under Pub, Satisfaction, Mt. Fuji, El Rodeo, Palermo Deli and Taverna Nikos. Nikos is supposed to reopen soon at Brightleaf after several months closed, but not in time for the festival.

"We're going to do the catering out of the Taverna Nikos in Morrisville," Masters said.

Maybe next year

Remember that bigger, better Harris Teeter grocery store that was supposed to go up on the old Willowdaile Cinema lot on Guess Road?

Here's the latest, from company spokeswoman Jennifer Panetta:

"We should be starting construction soon. We plan to open the store during the fall/winter of 2008-2009. Thank you for following up."

Harris Teeter has said the new store will cover 48,000 square feet and take the place of its 28,000-square foot existing location across Horton Road in the Willowdaile Shopping Center, as well as the former Northgate store that closed in June 2005.

Back then, the new H-T was going to open in 2006; in '06, it was by spring '07. Wait'll next year?

Birthday bash

BookDabbler celebrates its first anniversary Thursday, with refreshments and door prizes from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The book and gift shop is in the Loehmann's Plaza shopping center on Hillandale Road, just north of I-85. Its previously announced children's story time debuts next week as well, Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Bulking up

Empower Personal Training has enlarged its Shannon Road gym by 1,000 square feet. The expansion accommodates added cardiovascular and strength-training equipment at the two-year-old, seven-trainer studio.

Globalization

CKS Kitchens, 2408 Reichard Street, is now dealing in cabinets by the Italian manufacturer Pedini.