Main, oh Main

It’s been a year since the Albemarle Baking Company left its snug berth in York Place to blaze a new path at the Main Street Market, formerly the MacGregor Imported Auto building on East Main Street. Though ABC was the only tenant at first– and remains the Market’s anchor, many would argue– the list of businesses that have followed in the bakery’s path is now lengthy. In fact, six businesses now call the Market home.
When Dish last touched base with the Main Street Market, upscale Dean & Deluca-style deli Ciboulette and gourmet cheese and condiment shop Feast! had both recently opened and were winning rave reviews from patrons.
But we mentioned little about the fishmonger or gourmet chocolatier that joined the ranks soon after our column ran. And now with upscale cooking supply store Seasonal Cook comfortably ensconced, Main Street Market deserves a second look…
Seafood@Main_Street is the fish market we mentioned, and though small– a simple counter in the main “courtyard” space of the Market—on the day of our visit the smoked salmon and fresh yellowtail tuna steak, looked tantalizing.
Gearhart’s chocolate shop is in a separate small space at the front of the building, between ABC and Ciboulette, and like any good chocolate shop should do, it whispers decadence. Cool and dark inside, with displays of the sweet treats and gorgeous plants including a red amaryllis in full bloom, Gearhart’s will be close to the heart of many chocolate-lovers.
But for those whose sweet tooth isn’t satisfied by sinfully rich chocolates (or who are looking for a more diet-friendly treat) Caldo & Freddo gelato is now available from Feast!, along with lunchtime sandwiches. Regulars of the Seminole Square shopping center know Caldo & Freddo is home to authentic Italian gelato (an ice confection lower in fat and calories than ice cream), made by a gelato chef, Andrea Acciaro, who was imported from Italy specifically for the job.
Though Dish wondered if perhaps Caldo & Freddo might find a second home at the Market, Acciaro says there are no plans at this point to open a second store there.
We’ll keep our fingers crossed for more great additions to the Market since two large spaces as well as a couple of courtyard openings are still available, according to a source at owner Gabe Silverman’s office. Silverman, reached in San Francisco, had no comment for us regarding potential tenants, and his partner, Allan Cadgene, couldn’t be reached by deadline.

Dance hall days
Those who follow dining developments closely may recall that about a year ago Rapture took over the space that once housed Cookies by Design on Fourth Street.
Then, late last year, Rapture owners Mike Rodi and Andrew Vaughan announced initial plans for the space. The duo had hoped to create a multi-leveled “Euro club” by late spring, and here we are... so what’s going on?
“We’ve been in meetings about it all week,” Rodi explains. The plans are still on, he adds, and construction should begin “soon,” though no dates are set.
Rodi says we can expect “a clean look with muted colors, lots of translucent materials, and ambient lighting.” We’ll tell you when it’s time to lace up your dancing shoes.