Pietro’s Trattoria broke ground for their new restaurant in Reynolds Ranch a couple weeks ago, according to owner Pete Murdaca. The much-anticipated two-story, 9,000-sq.ft. restaurant will be located at 282 Rocky Lane, on the corner next to the Fairfield Inn and in front of the new Residence Inn. Jim Murdaca opened Pietro’s on Kettleman Lane in 1985 and it has become the go-to restaurant in the region. His son Pete bought the place from his parents Jim and Annette when they retired a couple years ago. If all goes well the new eatery should be open for business by next fall. So what happens to the current restaurant on Kettleman? Pete hasn’t said, except to say it will remain a restaurant, perhaps a notch or two above what it is today.
ALL-NIGHTER: Athlete extraordinaire Dave Phillips, 61, of Lodi finished the epic “Javelina Jundred” 100-mile ultramarathon race at 4:23 a.m. on Oct. 28 in Fountain Hills, Arizona. He says he ran all night through the desert. “Fun to be passed by some of the best trail runners in the world,” he says. The race is said to be one of the most popular ultramarathons in the country. Race organizers say it is the original costumed 100-mile trail party, meaning many runners show up in costumes, similar to the Bay-to-Breakers in San Francisco. “Big thanks to my crew, Corene, Connor, Elizabeth, Joyce, and my pacer Miana. They kept me fed and hydrated. This was the hottest Javelina ever. Hydration and salt intake were key to surviving,” Phillips says. Dave isn’t new to running. He was a stand-out athlete at Lodi High during the day.
ROADSIDE DINING: Speaking of restaurants, one of our readers reports full-blown outdoor kitchens have been popping up in the Safeway parking lot and on the dirt shoulder of Harney Lane next to Costco. He wonders if they have a business license or are cleared by the health department to ensure the food is safe to eat. Good questions all. He also imagines the other nearby restaurants must be thrilled by the competition. … The Safeway and Hobby Lobby parking lots have also become open air drug markets. We’ve mentioned this before, but it’s still a problem. Business seems to be booming. Druggies don’t even try to hide it. They don’t seem to care when someone drives slowing by the beat-up car they use as a sales office and shooting gallery. Perhaps police will have more tools in their box under Prop. 36, which appears to have been overwhelmingly approved by voters on Tuesday…