Open for Business

The Metropolitan Grill opened May 22 at its new location, 2931 E. Battlefield Road, in the Regency Center. Owner and chef Fred Coco said the restaurant outgrew the space in the Plaza Shopping Center, 1908 S. Glenstone Ave., where it had been since opening in 1994. It is open 5-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m.-1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Live jazz can be heard on Sunday nights. The new location seats 175 people, and has a banquet room and outdoor patio.

The Salvation Army Harbor House Men's Shelter reopened May 13 after completing $245,000 in renovations that updated and expanded the kitchen and dining areas, and added four bathrooms with showers. Renovations also included a security entrance, and new heating and air conditioning units. The shelter, which now has capacity for 32 men, offers the Day Labor Program and the Front Line Feeding Program for guests. Last year, 22,795 individuals stayed at the shelter, and 2,030 men benefited from the job placement program. Also, 70,190 meals were served in 2001.

A new dot-com home accessories retailer, Furniture Gourmet Inc., has opened in Springfield. Company President Karen Parry said the business went online Jan. 7. The Web site, www.furnituregourmet.com, offers themed decorating collections like "Asian Style," "Warmth of Tuscany," and "Where the Wild Things Are."

by Eric Olson