TRANSITIONS

Some time in the next couple of weeks, pending the delivery of a couple of pieces of equipment, Alan Littlefield will be opening Littlefield’s Cafe in the Indian Hills Shopping Center, Suite 33, 6929 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock, in a free-standing building that most recently housed Metro Burger and before that Casa Mexicana and a Three Flamingos frozen yogurt store.

Littlefield and his family own Starlite Diner, MacArthur and Military drives, North Little Rock, but, he says, they’ll be shutting that down in January. So, “technically you could say it’s a move,” he says. “We don’t own the building, just the business,” he explains, and while the business hasn’t been as successful as they’d hoped, he’s also heard a report or rumor that the gas station on that lot is looking to expand and add a fast-food restaurant to its footprint.

Littlefield says he’ll have the “exact same menu,” plus a few additional items, as he’s currently slinging at Starlite. Hours will be similar, tentatively set for 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. The business doesn’t yet have a listed telephone number, but you can reach Littlefield in the meanwhile at (501) 420-2526.

Michael Juiliano, aka Hot Dog Mike, has opened his Hot Dog Mike the Storefront, 402 E. Third St., Little Rock. Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, the phone number is (501) 773-0209, and you can find a menu and other information at hotdogmike.com.

The Jacksonville Parks and Recreation folks say they expect to maintain their Food Truck Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Jacksonville Farmers Market, 9 Municipal Drive (south of the Community Center) through the chilly winter months. Jacksonville-based Black Hound Bar B Q is out there pretty much every week with at least one other truck, sometimes as many as three or four, so there is always barbecue and hot dogs, usually pizza, sometimes chicken and waffles. You can usually find updates at the Facebook pages of Black Hound (tinyurl.com/n4rlecv) and Jacksonville Parks and Rec (tinyurl.com/l72gmdj) or call (501) 982-4171.

SKK Pizza, which had its grand opening March 20 in a former Taco Bueno at 331 Weir Road, Russellville, the first U.S. outlet of an Italian pizza and Mediterranean food chain, has closed, according to one of our sharp-eyed correspondents. A hand-scrawled sign on the window says, “Thanks Russellville” and “Moved to Los Angeles.” (The website, skkusa.com, does say three Southern California outlets are pending.) There’s no mention of the closing or the move on the Facebook site, facebook.com/SkkUsa, and while nobody answers the phone number, (479) 967-1300, it had not been disconnected by deadline.

And speaking of pizza, one of our sharp-eyed observers spotted DeLuca’s Pizzeria Napoletana, with this apparent subtitle on its sign: “Brooklyn Bridge, Hot Springs Station,” at 407 Park Ave., Hot Springs. Thatbetokens a Brooklyn origin for its owners, or at least its namesake. (The sign also notes, “We Deliver.”) Opening was planned for early September, according to the Facebook page, tinyurl.com/k3hj9s4, which now says it’ll be “open soon”; the listed phone number, (501) 609-9002, returns a “not a working number” response from the phone company. A website, delucaspizzeriahotsprings.com, is still under construction. We’ll keep you posted.

And still speaking of pizza, the Old Chicago outlet at 4305 Warden Road, North Little Rock, will hold its annual Charity Day on Tuesday, donating 100 percent of its food sales that day toward the eighth annual North Little Rock Police Department “Shop with a Cop,” Dec. 8 and 15 at the Wal-Mart on North Little Rock’s McCain Boulevard. Call (501) 812-6262, (501) 259-5810 or (501) 366-4330.

And speaking of food-related charity events, Advanced Health Spa and Santa Claus will team up for a peanut butter drive to benefit the Arkansas Food Bank, 4-8 p.m. Dec. 5 at the spa, 615 Beechwood St., in Little Rock’s Hillcrest neighborhood. (That happens to be the first Thursday in December, so this is part of the Hillcrest Merchants’ monthly Shop N Sip.) Children of all ages and their pets may have their photos taken with Santa - the price, one jar of peanut butter (or a cash donation in lieu). It’s the same admission charge to play in the Jumpy Castle. The spa will also raffle off a gift basket. The Kroger across the street will set up a peanut-butter donation box for folks who have no interest in Santa or Jumpy Castles but still wish to contribute. Call (501) 663-2600.

Has a restaurant opened - or closed - near you in the last week or so? Does your favorite eatery have a new menu? Is there a new chef in charge? Drop us a line. Call (501) 399-3667 or (501) 378-3513, or send a note to Restaurants, Weekend Section, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 121 E. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, Ark. 72201. Send email to: eharrison@arkansasonline.com