Found over on the blog Jack and Mrs. Elliott Move to Bend: rumors about happenings in the Minnesota building downtown that houses Marz and Astro Lounge, among others.

First, Chocolate e Gateaux has not has his lease renewed. The shop will be shuttered by the end of this coming weekend. The awning is already down.

The rent at Marz is said to have been raised 28%. This in an effort to get them out. I didn't learn what's going on at Astro, but since the owner plans to knock out all the dividing walls and join all three shops into one, Astro probably has been given unpleasant news, too.

Additionally, the owner has made an offer to buy the building which houses Dudley's and Kitchen Complements. Again, to bang down the walls and further open up the space.

Converting what was five small business into one big business.

The speculation as to what the "big business" is: a wine and tasting shop of some sort. Interesting, but is it true? I haven't been downtown lately—is Chocolate et Gateaux's awning down?

A little rumor birdie this weekend told me that The Blacksmith Restaurant is going to be closing down for a bit of a remodel sometime soon... there will still be a restaurant, though greatly reduced to around 10 tables (not unlike how it was when it originally opened) and the majority of the space will be turned into... a jazz bar.

That's what I heard, anyway. I didn't find anything online about it, but then, that's a rumor for you.