After renovations, The Pita Pit will replace ice cream shop

A far cry from the indulgent creamery once located at 530 E. Kirkwood Ave., The Pita Pit is set to open in its newest location sometime in early March. The restaurant claims to boast “fresh thinking and healthy eating,” according to its Web site.\nCold Stone Creamery, a franchise which offers up to 20 different flavors of ice cream, recently abandoned its location on east Kirkwood and is now being replaced by a much different type of food corporation.\nThough Cold Stone Creamery had at least another two years on their lease in the Carmichael Building, located on the corner of Kirkwood and Indiana, dealers from The Pita Pit negotiated with Cold Stone and worked out an agreement to take over the space, said Debi O’Heran, vice president of Property Management/Leasing of W.S Property Group in Bloomington.\n“The space is currently under renovation in order to make way for the new restaurant, which will include outdoor seating,” O’Heran said.\nThere are 120 locations in 38 states, and 55 in development, said Jamie Denham, a marketing agent with The Pita Pit.\n“Our service is truly unique in that we try to provide tasty but healthy food, our portions are very generous and our service is such that we appeal mainly to college students and young people,” Denham said. \nTraditionally, college students are more attracted to the restaurant because it’s quicker, healthier and open late, according to the Web site.\n“I think it’s a good thing that students can get a healthy food alternative near campus,” said freshman Chris McConn whose parents own Mother Bear’s Pizza, 1428 E. Third St.\nThe newly constructed corporation took a special interest in the Kirkwood location because of the heavy influx of college students, not to mention one of the owners is from Bloomington, Denham said.\nThe franchise was originally opened in 1995 near the campus of Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, according to the site. The restaurant quickly became famous for attracting young professionals and college students with its unique meal experience, including grilled meat and fresh vegetables wrapped in a one-of-a-kind pita shell. There are also Pita Pit locations in Muncie and West Lafayette, according to the site.