Chris Fernandez told syracuse.com that he spent two hours every morning for about 10 years at the original Cafe Kubal on James Street. Kubal was in that room from 2006 until February 2025. When it closed, Fernandez didn't go looking for a new location. He leased the same 2,000 square feet at 3501 James St., bought much of Kubal's equipment and opened Caffè Cosi in April.
That's how most of the new food on James Street got here this year. A coffee shop moved into a coffee shop. A cheesesteak cook moved into a sports bar's kitchen. A burger business that started without a dining room has been grilling on weekends near the former Lee's Garden while it builds one inside. Each newcomer started with something already in place, so none of them had to build from scratch, and their hours each cover a different part of the week.
The Coffee Shop That Took Down One Wall
Caffè Cosi sits at the end of the Eastwood plaza anchored by 3fifteen and Dollar General. It covers more ground than Kubal did because it takes in part of the former Sacred Melody bookstore. Kubal had expanded into that space before it closed, and Fernandez took down a wall to open the two rooms into one. He owns the local Pawn King franchise and told syracuse.com he had no coffee shop experience before this. He added that Kubal's Matt Godard helped him get up to speed.
The menu started small on purpose. It has espresso drinks such as macchiatos and cappuccinos, plus prosciutto-based sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, including a prosciutto, egg and mozzarella sandwich and a caprese panini. The menu also uses organic and grass-fed ingredients. The room is built for staying a while, with dark wood, white quartz tables on wrought iron bases, colorful leather seating, and black-and-white family photos hung among pictures of Tuscany and Venice. The name translates to "coffee like this." The Daily Orange covered the grand opening in April.
The hours have changed since then. The April announcement listed 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., seven days a week. Caffè Cosi's own site now lists 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, and closed on Sunday. So the shop is open longer on weekday afternoons and shorter on weekends. Anyone who formed the habit in spring may find the door locked on a Sunday morning.
A Cheesesteak Counter Inside Chadwick's
Farther down James Street, Kaleb Schnell moved his cheesesteak operation, Hermit's, into Chadwick's Sports Bar at 2529 James St. in February. Syracuse.com wrote about it in April because of the wagyu cheesesteaks.
The setup works the same way as Cosi's in a different form. Chadwick's already had the bar, the room and the regulars. Hermit's added a kitchen with its own name. That April story listed Hermit's hours as Monday through Saturday, 4 to 11 p.m. That's six months ago, so confirm with Chadwick's before you plan around it. The 4 p.m. start is the same hour Caffè Cosi closes Monday through Thursday.
Burgers on the Sidewalk Near 2601 James Street
Get Smashed is the one still in progress. Ryan MacCammon built the business as a ghost kitchen and pop-up, with no dining room of its own. CNYCentral reported on August 8 that he was building his first formal restaurant at 2601 James St., in the former Lee's Garden, and selling at weekend pop-ups there during construction. The station's photo caption describes MacCammon "pitching a tent and firing up the grills on the weekends."
As of today, Get Smashed's website still says the Eastwood location isn't ready to open. It says the team is selling burgers across the street from the new restaurant on Saturdays from noon to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., weather permitting, and it points customers to 2601 James St. No opening date for the permanent restaurant has been announced. The tent depends on the weather, and October in Syracuse makes that a real factor, so check the site before you go.
How the Hours Fit Together
Put the three schedules side by side and they barely overlap. Coffee covers the weekday morning and early afternoon, the cheesesteak counter takes over at 4 p.m., and the burger grill covers weekend afternoons.
| Spot | Address | Days | Hours | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caffè Cosi | 3501 James St. | Mon–Thu | 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Current official site |
| Caffè Cosi | 3501 James St. | Fri | 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Current official site |
| Caffè Cosi | 3501 James St. | Sat | 8 a.m. to noon | Current official site |
| Hermit's at Chadwick's | 2529 James St. | Mon–Sat | 4 to 11 p.m. | April 2026 report |
| Get Smashed tent | 2601 James St. area | Sat | Noon to 7 p.m. | Current official site |
| Get Smashed tent | 2601 James St. area | Sun | Noon to 5 p.m. | Current official site |
Sunday is the gap. Cosi is closed, the April listing doesn't show Hermit's open, and of the three only Get Smashed lists Sunday hours. Saturday is the one day all three schedules cover, and it runs as a handoff, with Cosi closing at noon, the same hour the grill is scheduled to start.
The Palace Sets the Fall Calendar
The Palace Theatre at 2384 James St. was already in place before any of these newcomers arrived, and its fall schedule is where the new hours start to matter. Here's what's on, with the newcomer that fits each date:
- Thursday, October 1, 6 p.m. LAUNCHing Our Talents holds its annual talent show. Thursday is Cosi's longer day, open until 4 p.m., and Hermit's April hours start at 4.
- Saturday, October 3, 7:30 p.m. Tupelo Honey, a Van Morrison tribute. The Get Smashed tent's posted Saturday hours end at 7, half an hour before the show starts.
- Sunday, October 4. The Syracuse International Film Festival brings screenings and panels to the Palace. Of the three, only Get Smashed lists Sunday hours, noon to 5 p.m.
- Friday, October 30. The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween event opens its doors at 7 p.m., and the movie starts at 10. That three-hour stretch between doors and the movie fits inside the 4-to-11 window listed for Hermit's in April.
- November 21 at 7 p.m. and November 22 at 3 p.m. Jessica Lynn's holiday show.
- Friday, December 4, 8 p.m. Sal Valentinetti's Christmas show.
- Sunday, December 13, 2 p.m. "The Secret of Christmas."
- Friday, December 18, 7 p.m. Steven Page Trio, Steven's Greetings 2026.
The Palace's event listings have tickets and details. The December dates are far enough out that Get Smashed's tent will likely be done for the season by then, and the restaurant may be open by then. Nobody has said when. Whatever opens at 2601 James St. before the holiday shows will be on the same street as a theater with three December dates on its calendar.
October 25 Starts on Robinson Street
The other fixed date on Eastwood's fall calendar isn't on James Street at all. The Eastwood Neighborhood Association holds its 20th annual Eastwood Five Mile Run on Sunday, October 25, at 10 a.m. It starts at Henninger High School, 600 Robinson St., and runs through the neighborhood. The association's event listing has the details and links to the race's own site. It's a Sunday, the day Caffè Cosi is closed, and the race is over by the time the Get Smashed grill is scheduled to start at noon, weather permitting.
If you live near James Street and you're thinking about what your place is worth while the street changes around it, Jeremy Allen can give you a clear starting number. Get Your Instant Home Valuation, then let's talk about how this stretch of Eastwood is pricing this fall.
