Two new restaurants build on family legacy

Two small businesses recently opened in the City of Tehachapi, filling vacancies and adding another layer of café and food service to the community.

"One Fine Day in Tehachapi" opened on F Street in late June as the second restaurant owned and operated by Michael Toppeta, owner of 4 Seasons Café also in Downtown Tehachapi. He also has family ties to his One Fine Day in Tehachapi neighbor, ThaiHachapi. The café space had been vacant for a few years following the relocation of Tehachapi Flower Shop to Green Street. Toppeta has since taken the space and has added great new flavors of coffee, smoothies, other specialty drinks and small café fare including a variety of toasts, sandwiches and acai bowls. The space has already become a popular destination for downtown tourists and locals as his interior decorations showcase the natural beauty of Tehachapi, accented by our railroad history, including a pair of model trains that run above the dining area, one for Union Pacific and one for BNSF.

One Fine Day in Tehachapi is open Tuesday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Along the Tucker corridor, the former NYC Subs & Grill did not sit vacant long as recent residents to Tehachapi have expanded their pizza and subs empire to include our community, adding the seventh location of "Two Brothers from Italy" to the Albertson's shopping center. This newest location serves pizza by the slice or entire pie, calzones, subs, pasta and salads. This location joins four in North County San Diego, one in Vista and another in Big Pine as the latest addition to this family-owned chain.

Two Brothers from Italy was originally founded by Paolo and Franco LoMendico who came to New York in 1971 from Sicily. They moved west and opened their first location in 1972 in Huntington Beach. In 1989, Paolo started operating multiple restaurants then passed that legacy onto his children who operate the seven locations today.

More details about their story and menu can be found on their website http://www.twobrothersfromitalypizza.com. There are a few inside tables and bar seats for dining in or on their small patio, while many orders are placed for carry out. Their Tehachapi phone number is (661) 823-4004 for orders.

Two new small businesses, one building on a family legacy in Tehachapi, while another has extended their family legacy into our community.