Occupancy Permits: The Pit BBQ on DeKoven Ave.

The city issued eight occupancy permits in April for new businesses. The permits included:

* The Pit BBQ carryout restaurant at 1215 DeKoven Ave. The restaurant, former home to BBQ Time, is owned by Loren Buirge.

* Edward Guss is opening a repair garage on at 2513 Fergus Ave.

* Ricos Value City at 1817 State St. The store is owned by Yailin Felliciano.

* Gold Horizon Second Hand Jewelry at 5502 Durand Ave. The store owner is Omar Canpolat.

* 3rd Coast Bicycles at 246 Main St. The bike rental shop is owned by Donald Heckel.

* Silver Choice and Name Buckles Second Hand Jewelry at 5502 Durand Ave. The story is owned by Ahmad Khan.

* Byron Graves Photography at 1503 Washington Ave. The business is owned by Byron Graves.

* Tradewinds Bar and Banquet Hall at 1518 Washington Ave. the business is owned by Gary De Pelecyn.

All permits cost $200, except for Canpolat's, which cost $100.

City issues 14 occupancy permits in March

The following businesses received occupancy permits from the city in March (all permits cost $200):

* New Life Christian Fellowship, 1701 Douglas Ave., March 1

* Nick's Mini Mart, owner Amal Jaber, 1407 Superior St., March 2

* Racine Food Market, Asad Museitef, 1001 Center St., March 5

* Copycat Music, Raymond Sanin, 3205 Washington Ave., March 3

* GDZ Custom Auto Parts, Juan Godinez, 1656 Douglas Ave., March 4

* Milk & Honey Cafe, Erica Timpano, 3739 Douglas Ave., March 8

* Majestic Surfaces (a stone warehouse and shop), 1251 Mound Ave., March 9

* Belle City Food Mart, Wisam Fattah, 522 Sixteenth St., March 9

* Ceramic Gardens, Lou Ann Urness, 610 College Ave., March 9

* Sparty's Gyros, Costa Giannakopoulos, 5205 Washington Ave., March 11

* Ministerio de Restaurancion La Llama Ardiente Inc, 3308 Washington Ave., March 23

* Taqueria Willi's, William Valdez, 2920 Taylor Ave., March 31

* Centeotl Restaurant, Juan Godinez, 1824 Douglas Ave., March 30

* Teamm Tax Service, Tina Jamison, 3208 Washington Ave., March 31

Fourteen businesses received occupancy permits from the city in March for a total of $2,800 in fees.

Occupancy Permits: Cafe planned in former YWCA building

Here's a recap of the December occupancy permits issued in the city:

* Robert Stoewe is opening a light manufacturing business at 1507 Goold St. He applied for an occupancy permit on Dec. 3, 2009.

* Brad Leak is opening a Liberty Tax Preparation Office at 1500 State St. He applied for an occupancy permit on Dec. 7, 2009.

* Roberta Schulz is opening a new restaurant, Caliente, at 600 Sixth St. She applied for an occupancy permit on Dec. 8, 2009.

* Servantez Properties Inc. is opening Servantez Automotive at 1407 S. Memorial Drive. They applied for an occupancy permit on Dec. 10, 2009.

* Benito De Santiago is opening the "Courthouse Cafe" at 740 College Ave. He applied for an occupancy permit on Dec. 14, 2009.

* Ramon and Lucy Garcia are opening Superior Convenience Store at 5502 Durand Ave. They applied for an occupancy permit on Dec. 16, 2009.

* Johny Massih is opening a Jackson Hewitt Tax Office at 2050 Taylor Ave. He applied for an occupancy permit on Dec. 22, 2009.

Occupancy permits are a one-time permit required by the city before a business can move into a building. Permits do not necessarily remodeling is complete on the building or that the business is open.