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The Bike Campaign just opened a Bike Garage in Davis, at 1550 Cannery Ave., east of The Barn.

The 10-year-old nonprofit has been running the Bike Garage from Douglass Middle School, 525 Granada Drive in Woodland. Bike Campaign director Maria Contreras Tebbutt said she and other volunteers didn’t want to work out of a closed school during the pandemic, so they started helping people out of the garage of her East Davis home.

“There were so many inquiries,” she said, “from people needing to repair bikes or get bikes (during COVID).”

She said that when the spot opened up at The Cannery, it was perfect. It’s sheltered but open-air, protecting volunteers and patrons from the elements. The Bike Garage provides free bike repair and advice, and quality used bikes that are tested by mechanics. These used bikes last much longer than ones you’d buy at Target, she said.

Clinic winter hours are 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, and 2 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. Volunteers and bike donations are welcome. For more information, contact Tebbutt at [email protected] or visit https://www.thebikecampaign.com/.

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Sam’s Mediterranean Cuisine has been closed for nearly a year. Owner Samir Abughannam kept telling me he didn’t think it was safe to open yet. Little did I know that his family was dealing with another battle — his wife’s acute monocytic leukemia. Sue Abughannam, 52, died on Dec. 20 after an unsuccessful stem cell transplant.

Caleb Hampton’s story last week highlighted the family’s struggles. Like all Davis restaurants, Sam’s Mediterranean, at 301 B St., closed on March 17. But it hasn’t reopened. The family used the time to care for Sue and minimize her exposure to COVID-19. Sam applied for government assistance for the restaurant but has not received any funds.

“I am left with back rent due, and other expenses that I have not been able to pay off,” Sam wrote on a GoFundMe page he created to save the restaurant. “My family and I would deeply appreciate any help.”

As of Friday morning, some 2,000 people had pitched in, raising more than $144,300 in the first six days to save the popular restaurant. The goal is $150,000. Visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-sams-restaurant-after-death-leukemia.

“Thank you so much for bringing our story to light and sharing it for others to see!” he wrote in a message to me, referring to an Enterprise article that posted on Tuesday. “My wife had a very rough journey; all she and we wanted was for the reality of what she went through to get some exposure. … We appreciate you for helping it get more awareness!”

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Café Bernardo and its Wiki Bar were still closed on Thursday, and had been since Jan. 10. A note on the door at 234 D St. says it’s temporary.

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Businesses across town were still recovering this weekend from Tuesday evening’s gusty storm. Damaged lines left thousands without power. The wind toppled trees, ripped awnings and demolished outdoor dining equipment. The extended lack of power forced many stores and restaurants to throw out food.

On Wednesday, Sergio Saenz, owner of Tres Hermanas at 805 Second St., said on Facebook, “As if we didn’t have enough to deal (with), last night’s storm trashed our patio.” A photo showed his restaurant’s temporary shelters destroyed.

Some businesses tried to remain open despite the lack of power. On Wednesday, Kobe Mini Mart on E Street announced on Facebook that though its lights were out, it was offering its frozen food at half-price. No one showed and most was discarded.

Many downtown businesses remained closed late last week. As of Friday morning, there were still several outages downtown, mostly between D and G streets and Second and Seventh streets. As PG&E repaired lines and restored power, some like Woodstock’s Pizza and Red 88 Noodle Bar were back open on G Street. On F Street, University of Beer reopened on Friday, and Armadillo Music planned to on Saturday.

The Davis Food Co-op reopened on Friday. Despite some outages around University Mall, Trader Joe’s was back open on Thursday, after cleaning out its freezers and fridges on Wednesday.

There were too many power outages to keep track of on my spreadsheet of Davis businesses. That Google sheet includes more than 325 Davis businesses touched by COVID-19. It’s at https://bit.ly/DavisBusinesses. In it, there are sheets for Restaurants-open, Restaurants-closed, Businesses-retail, Businesses-service, Special hours (for older adults or compromised shoppers), and more. Please email [email protected] to suggest updates or additions.

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Woodland is getting a new restaurant. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue plans to open in mid-February at 353 W. Main St., in the Westgate Shopping Center.

The 1,400-square-foot restaurant will join six other L&L Hawaiian Barbecue restaurants in the region: three in Sacramento, two in Roseville and one in Elk Grove. Eddie Flores Jr. and Johnson Kam founded the Honolulu restaurant in 1952. Today, it has 207 franchised restaurants in 15 states and Japan.

My son, a University of Hawaii student, said L&L is a fast-food, inexpensive version of the traditional plate lunch, featuring a meat, rice and macaroni salad. The regular plates are double what he can eat — and he’s a powerlifter with a massive appetite. He gets a mini mixed plate with barbecued chicken and chicken katsu.

The Hawaiian comfort food will be available for takeout, and will add dine-in services when the state allows. Hours will be 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. visit https://www.hawaiianbarbecue.com/.

— Wendy Weitzel is a Davis writer and editor. Her column runs on Sundays. Check for frequent updates on her Comings & Goings Facebook and Instagram pages. If you know of a business coming or going in the area, contact her at [email protected]

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