This week in Ozarks food news, two spots close — one “for a little while” — while a cafe opens inside a Nixa game store and a Springfield brewery relocates.
Vegan brunch spot in downtown Springfield closes its doors
Brunch Box, which shared a spot with Sweet EMOtion on Walnut Street, has closed its doors as of June 29.
The vegan breakfast and lunch spot opened at 211 E. Walnut St. in July 2023, according to previous News-Leader reporting.
Owner Rachel Velasco began operating the vegan cafe and bakery as Whipped Cream & Other Delights out of her home in 2018. In July 2023, she rebranded her business to Brunch Box.
Nixa game store now serving coffee, snacks
Folks can play board games and enjoy a coffee thanks to Sugar & Dice, a new addition to Haven Games, 106 W. Sherman Way in Nixa.
The game store opened the cafe Sugar & Dice on June 30. It’s now serving coffee, refreshers, paninis and more. Currently, the cafe has limited hours 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily except for Monday evenings and Wednesday mornings, according to Haven Games’ Facebook page.
Haven Games opened at 106 W. Sherman Way in July 2021.
Nixa restaurant closes temporarily after car crash
Piccolo owner Steve D’Arpino posted on Facebook June 30 that the Italian restaurant will be closed after a car drove through the back office and kitchen/dish room.
“Thankfully no team members were injured, shaken up obviously, but physically fine,” D’Arpino wrote in the early June 30 post. “Obviously we’re going to be shut down for a little while. We’ll keep everyone updated as we make progress. Thank you to everyone who reached out and offered help and support.”
According to City of Nixa spokesperson Summer Rascoll, the driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital and while one Piccolo employee was pinned by a piece of kitchen equipment, they were not taken to the hospital. The Nixa Police Department is investigation what caused the crash.
Steve D’Arpino has run Piccolo for nearly a decade in Nixa, according to past News-Leader reporting. The restaurant opened at 107 W. Aldersgate Drive as a “spin-off” of his parents’ Springfield restaurant D’Arpino’s Italian Cafe. Mary Ann and Mark D’Arpino closed their cafe in 2018 due to health problems, after 13 years in business.
Brewery moves to new location
Great Escape Beer Works is now in a new location: 6021 W. U.S. Highway 60 in Brookline. It’s open from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, 1 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
In addition to craft beer, the brewery also serves pizzas, sandwiches and salads.
For nearly eight years, Jake and Jen Duensing ran the brewery in Springfield’s Galloway Village neighborhood, according to past News-Leader reporting.