A fresh start on North Main

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Pita Bite, 207 N. Main. 585-5196. Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-midnight. www.mypitabite.com

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After six years of trying to run the Chocolate House of Ann Arbor while holding down full-time day jobs, Vicky and Rob Ponitz sold the business to their nephew, Alex Molnar, who changed the name to Carillon Chocolates in mid-June. Molnar, twenty-five, had worked in the shop two years ago and had a clear idea of its strengths and weaknesses. "I saw a lot of potential in it," he says. "The location's great, and it's a nice old building. But my aunt just couldn't put in enough time. And they priced themselves too low for Main Street."

Molnar is styling Carillon Chocolates as both coffeehouse and chocolate shop. He's even roasting his own beans. Operating the roaster, he says, is a whole lot easier than making chocolate, so he's grateful most of the staff stayed on to help with the candy making. He's offering two different regular coffees, two decafs, and espresso each day, and he's considering moving opening time up an hour to 8 a.m. to catch more of the morning traffic.