While talking with longtime Marquis Awards owners John and Terry Collins about the summer closing — and hopeful sale — of their Bent Street business that began in their home in 1983, they mentioned all of the changes in businesses downtown during that period. 

However, you don’t have to have been here  long to see a lot of change that’s either happened or is in the wings downtown. I know the groups of friends who like their morning breakfast get-togethers are concerned, because Pepe’s announced it’s closing at the end of this month. The Mexican restaurant has, for more than 20 years, served both Mexican and American breakfast staples, as well as lunch options. 

And, oh by the way, Cafe 3 Zero 7, current occupant of a classic cafe location on Second Street, is for sale. And Hickory Street Bistro, known for breakfasts as well as its own spin on lunch and dinners, just shut its doors aside from catering, according to a recent social media post. 

So, depending on what happens with some of these for-sale businesses, breakfast lovers may need to squeeze into a few less places going forward — there’s still Skyline Cafe and Uncommon Grounds, and the owners of Cafe 3 Zero 7 are doing what they can to sell the business rather than close it — or bide their time and snatch some fresh doughnuts from Yoders donuts the couple times a week the trailer is parked locally.

I’m sure there are entrepreneurs just waiting to take their shot at a new breakfast place in town, and I hope those who like their long morning breakfasts with friends always have some good places to choose from. 

Lucky for me, my feathered breakfast makers remain on the job.