Historic Italian deli, Traverso’s is packing up the pepperoni and pinot; the mozzarella and tortellini and leaving downtown Santa Rosa for good. After more than 30 years in its B Street location, Michael Traverso tells BiteClub that they’ve officially inked the deal and will be headed for Fountain Grove Village at the end of the year.

The family sold the property to developer Raj Gulati several years ago and has been looking for a new location ever since. With scant parking and an aging building, Traverso says it was any easy decision to move. “We’re super niche. We’re not a grocery store, we’re more of a specialty foods store. We really have become more of a destination location, so we need more parking and easy access.”

The new digs are close to Agilent, HP and the Fountain Grove Club and senior center, Veranna, just a few miles from downtown Santa Rosa — good news for hungry business lunchers. The space is about equal in size and all of the features that have defined the store — the deli, Italian foods, wine and spirits — will remain consistent. The Fountain Grove location will include outdoor seating.

Traverso’s downtown will remain open until December 31, 2008 and plans are to open the new store in early January 2009.

Can’t live without your meatloaf? Traverso says delivery service is a definite possibility next year.

Traverso’s 106 B St., Santa Rosa, (707) 542-2530

Happiness is a warm donut and a cup of coffee. Not every day, mind you, but as a personal victory lap for the little hurdles in life. Say, waking up and getting dressed or perhaps having bent down to pick up the newspaper.

It’s easy to find a reason. Harder to find a good donut.

The Donut Cafe has recently opened on Montgomery Drive (near Lepe’s Taqueria) to fulfill your early-morning pastry needs. These little pillows of sugary goodness are made fresh each day and they throw open the doors at 5am every day of the week, spurning eager-beaver joggers and health-nuts. Or maybe rewarding them.

BiteClub leaves it to you to justify a nice glazed jelly or maple log. Just know the Donut Cafe is there at the crack of dawn should you need them.

Donut Cafe, 4275 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, 707.539.2416. Open daily from 5am to 6pm.

Ready for a Hot Lips Cosmo? The revamped downtown cocktail club, Stir, thinks maybe you are. Located in the former Barcode space (404 Mendocino Ave.,), the new owners have come up with a list of specialty cocktails and a remodeled design for their July 3 opening.

The vibe, according to the new ower, will remain upscale cocktail chic, but with more seating, new lighting and a less stark color palette. So, what’s on the menu? They’ve come up with a handful of signature drinks for opening including the Hot Lips (a Cosmpolitan with a kick of chili); The Naked Lady (a vodka, mint and vanilla-flavored drink); Plum Crazy (a vodka and plum-flavored martini) and the Irish Cosmo (a Cosmo aimed toward the gents). Stir will also feature a wine list with small production wineries both local and outside the region. Stir, 404 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa

.… In other news, BiteClub has confirmed that Chef Preston Dishman is “transitioning” away from his post at The General’s Daughter in Sonoma. Dishman is a much-lauded chef who brought new life to the restaurant with his Wine Country meets Southern cookin’ style. UPDATE: Dishman says he’s hoping to stay local and has a few offers already. He’ll be at the General’s Daughter through July. His wife, who manages the restaurant’s front-of-the-house operations is also leaving. Does anyone smell a possible love match for John Ash, where Chef Madura recently departed?

…BiteClub’s got a bit of egg on her face after lauding the return of Chef Randy Lewis to Sonoma County. The former 707 and Popina chef was at Occidental’s Bistro des Copains for about six weeks before, well, leaving. Turns out the restaurant was taken a bit off-guard as well and will be naming a new chef shortly. Randy, who is apparently moving back to his old stomping grounds in New Orleans, will be continuing on as consulting chef and his menu and recipes will remain for the time being. Check out my gushing review online. Just ignore the parts about Randy.

…And even more chef shuffling. BiteClub has also confirmed that Chef Michael Ellis of Dry Creek Kitchen has resigned from his post. His replacement has not yet been named.

…After 20 years at John Ash and Co., Executive Chef Jeffrey Madura is leaving the restaurant that once defined California cuisine.

According to the restaurant’s owners, Madura’s departure was prompted by health issues in his family and has no immediate plans to move to another kitchen. In his place, Tom Schmidt, a former Californian chef who most recently ran a restaurant in Bremen, Germany. Madura’s last day will be July 31.

Already there’s plenty of rumbling in the foodie community as to what this might mean for the restaurant’s long-term prospects as well as it’s relationship with namesake chef, John Ash. Time will tell. Stay tuned.

…In other news, if you’re a Cafe Japan fan (the jewel-box sushi spot in downtown Santa Rosa), you’ve got through Thurday, June 26 to get your fix. According to co-owner Jennifer Bessette, the restaurant will close for good this week. She and husband Yosuke Saito — both musicians and new parents — are moving on after their lease expires at the end of the month. Bessette told BiteClub the numbers just weren’t working out financially to support their family. The two hope to have another food-related business in the future, but don’t have any concrete plans at the moment.