Eatery planned for Depot

Restaurateur Joel Ibarra has plans for a restaurant juggling act that will revitalize a refurbished downtown Raleigh train terminal nearly a year after its previous tenants unexpectedly closed.

His Mexican restaurant Jibarra is moving from North Raleigh to the terminal on Davie Street called The Depot.

He'll then fill Jibarra's spot at 7420 Six Forks Road with his family's other restaurant, El Rodeo.

Last year, a trio of nightclubs opened at The Depot. All three closed shortly thereafter because of a dispute over unpaid bills between the clubs' owner and the N.C. Railroad, which owns the building. Railroad officials said the dispute is "very near resolution."

Jibarra will close Aug. 3 and reopen downtown in October. El Rodeo will replace Jibarra in August. The other two spaces at The Depot are still to be leased.

Jibarra is a better fit for downtown, while family-friendly El Rodeo is better in North Raleigh, Ibarra said. To better accommodate downtown clientele, Jibarra will emphasize its small plates, appetizers and bar selections.

There are a couple of closures to report this week:

* In Cary, the South Hills Emporium will shut down July 19. The Emporium hosts more than 50 booths selling a variety of items at 1301-B Buck Jones Road. It is open Tuesday through Saturday.

* In Raleigh, The Percolator Lounge at Millbrook and Falls of Neuse roads will close July 12.

The partners behind Raleigh's Zely & Ritz will join with Southern food enthusiast Jamie DeMent to open Eno Restaurant & Market in Durham late this year. Eno will be in the old Fire Station Building at 101 City Hall Plaza and feature local ingredients. There are also plans to open a retail market selling local goods.

Taiseer "Taz" Zarka wants to bring a grocery store to downtown Raleigh, but he's splitting it up over four stores. The proprietor of Taz's convenience shop on South Wilmington Street opened a second store a block away that sells some grocery items and beer and wine.

He will open a third store in a few weeks next to his original one to sell non-food items such as household supplies. He is also negotiating for a fourth spot that he will stock with meat and produce.

By taking smaller spaces not yet in high demand, Zarka said, he gets in early and locks in cheaper rents. The move also lets him stay on Wilmington Street, where he has operated his business for 15 years.

In North Raleigh's Plantation Point, the BJ's-anchored shopping center across from Triangle Town Center, the following tenants will open this fall: Dollar Tree, Dots, Fashion Avenue of New York, Athlete's Foot, VIP Hair Studio and Planetary Nutrition.

Other items: Alltel Wireless is open in Durham at 5436 New Hope Commons Drive. ... Jazzercize of Apex moved to the Lawrence Crossing Shopping Center at 869 Perry Road. ... At Smithfield's Carolina Premium Outlets, an Aeropostale outlet will open Aug. 1, and a Crocs outlet will open this fall. ... Wal-Mart at 10050 Glenwood Ave. will undergo an overhaul, beginning this week and finishing by September.