Having navigated the restaurant business after buying Pleasure Pizza in 2023, Sol and Erica Lipman opened Pie Fi around the corner in downtown Santa Cruz, a physical location for working, learning and meeting, a digital platform for building artificial intelligence projects and an accelerator program all in one.
Local Business
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Pie Fi aims to be local AI accelerator; Cruzio completes high-speed internet project
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on an artificial intelligence incubator the owners of downtown Santa Cruz’s Pleasure Pizza are cooking up, an internet accessibility milestone for Cruzio, September’s hotel occupancy numbers and more.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lily Belli on Food: Mane Kitchen & Cocktails opens downtown; Hanloh ending run at Bad Animal; Capitola Mall’s new sweet spot
In her Tuesday newsletter, Lily Belli gets a first taste of Art Deco-inspired Mane Kitchen & Cocktails, reports on the end of chef Lalita Kaewsawang’s Thai pop-up at Bad Animal, notes the opening of Spontaneous Confections in the Capitola Mall and plenty more from around Santa Cruz County food & drink.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz County business filings: Week of Nov. 4
Businesses operating in Santa Cruz County must register with the county clerk. Lookout Santa Cruz reviews the public filings from local businesses to report on new businesses starting in the area.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Homeless Garden Project announces New Leaf Community Markets as Employer Partner of the Year
The Homeless Garden Project named New Leaf Community Markets its 2025 Employer Partner of the Year, recognizing the local grocer’s commitment to hiring graduates from HGP’s transitional employment program.
Posted inFood & Drink
Eaters Digest: Hamachi collar at Yakitori Toriman
A buttery, smoke-kissed fish dish from Yakitori Toriman is Lily Belli’s recommended local bite this week, and her Friday newsletter also spotlights upcoming food & drink events to check out and stories you might’ve missed.
Posted inFood & Drink
Best of Santa Cruz County food & drink events, Oct. 31-Nov. 6
Lookout food & drink correspondent Lily Belli highlights top events happening around Santa Cruz County this weekend and into next week, plus more listings from Lookout’s BOLO events calendar.
Posted inFood & Drink
Mission West’s next chapter: Santa Cruz’s ‘five-star dive bar’ to change hands in January
After six years revitalizing a once-weathered Santa Cruz bar into the beloved “five-star dive” Mission West, owners Max Turigliatto and Grant Staudt say they have sold the Westside spot to new owners, who will take over in January following a final New Year’s Eve celebration.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Cruzio completes high-speed internet expansion project
Local internet provider Cruzio has finished its “Equal Access Summits to the Sea” project, expanding affordable high-speed internet to thousands of residents from Half Moon Bay to Salinas.
Posted inFood & Drink
Smoky skewers and Japanese snacks: Yakitori Toriman expands into restaurant and konbini-style market
After four years of pop-ups, popular yakitori spot Yakitori Toriman is settling down in Capitola’s Brown Ranch Marketplace before the end of the year, transforming into a permanent restaurant and high-end Japanese market called Toriman.