Sunshine Kitchen & Moonshine Lounge opened Wednesday on Mill Avenue in Northeast Brainerd.

The restaurant, in the former Varsity Bar and Grill and former Chopper’s, is operated by Matt Taylor and Phillip Holbrook.

The restaurant reports it focuses on fresh ingredients and the menu includes burgers, sandwiches, vegan and vegetarian dishes. Sunshine Kitchen, which is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, offers take out and waiter service. The work of local artists is displayed on the restaurant walls and live music is featured.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, with its gourmet burritos and tacos, has been making the mouth-to-ear rounds in the lakes area recently. A number of people reported hearing the restaurant was considering opening in the lakes area.

A representative for Chipotle was contacted to determine if there was any truth to the chatter. The representative acknowledged Chipotle was pitched to take a restaurant pad in the strip center planned with the Costco development in Baxter and said the lakes area is on its radar.

“Some day we’ll be there, but we have to open in Duluth first and we’re not there yet,” the representative reported. For the good news for those who are hoping Chipotle does add the Brainerd lakes area to its location list, they are reportedly currently looking in Duluth.

Activity is picking up on many fronts as 2011 comes to a close. Efforts include adding retail in front of J.C. Penney’s. And several groups are looking into locating in the Brainerd area, including a cosmetology school, a barbecue place, a Mexican restaurant, a yogurt shop and two flooring stores.

Charter Communications is increasing Internet speeds for its customers at no charge, the company recently reported, noting this is the fourth time it’s added increased downloading speeds at no additional cost.

Charter said the increase will at least double upload speeds on its most popular Internet service at no additional cost in response to customer demand.

For about 95 percent of its Internet service area, the company reports is increasing Charter Internet Express download speeds from 12 megabits per second to up to 15 mbps, and increasing upload speeds from 1 mbps to up to 3 mbps. Download speed are also increasing on Charter Internet Plus and Charter Internet Ultra100.

The Old Milwaukee Club in Ideal is adding a multi-course dining experience for groups.

Mill Avenue Furniture recently opened in the vacant store front, and former furniture store, on Mill Avenue in northeast Brainerd across from Wausau Paper.

The furniture store is described as having new and old furniture along with a large inventory of home decor. The store is open daily, including weekends.

Deerwood Technologies, owned by Jim Mayne, recently closed on a revolving loan from the city of Deerwood. Deerwood Technologies received $57,000 from the city’s Revolving Loan Fund to help with business expansion plans.

In a narrative about the project, Deerwood Technologies reported it has added three permanent staff positions in the past 12 months and continues to interview at least three to four candidates each month. The business currently employs eight full-time staff members.

“By 2015, we project a total of 15-20 full-time employees in a variety of technical, engineering, consulting, service delivery, sales and marketing, and general business roles,” Deerwood Technologies reported. The business reported it plans to add three full-time professional employees — an operations manager, lead engineer and sales executive in 24-36 months.

Upgrades to the building where the company is located, the former Deerwood supermarket, are planned for completion in early 2012.

This number may surprise people to note there are at least 271 businesses in the Main Street District, according to the Main Street program.

Nate’s Computer Services reported it opened an office at Westport Shopping Center in Baxter next to RG Insurance beginning in November.

The business, owned Nathan Steffenson, who is also listed as webmaster and technician, offers computer help for individuals, businesses and organizations. Services include helping people learn software and help with hardware, including individual training and tutoring.

Other services include website design and other technology services, such as online help and support. Efforts include digital photography for websites and events, DVD transfers and digitizing older media, according to Steffenson’s website. Steffenson reports he graduated from Onamia High School, Central Lakes College and the College of St. Scholastica, majoring in computer science/information systems. He first started his business in 1999.

The Classic golf course at Madden’s was recently listed as Number 88 on Golf Week’s 2012 Best Resort Courses. The courses listed on Golf Week’s website include the top 100.

“We are thrilled to make the list of Golf Week’s top Resort Courses,” said Brian Thuringer, president of Madden’s on Gull Lake in an email. “The Classic requires both dedication and skill from its golfers and we love hearing their stories and feedback about the course.”

Little Fall’s Atomic Learning CEO Dan Meyer reported recent recognition of the staff and students of Little Falls Schools as “pioneers — those who are first or among the earliest in any field of inquiry — as they embarked on their iPad journey at the beginning of the school year.”

“Atomic Learning is proud to be partnering with the Little Falls District in this very ambitious initiative,” Meyer said in a news release. An analogy of technology tools, Meyer shared as advice was noteworthy. He said: “Take the device you’ve been given and achieve something great. After all, it wasn’t the plane that made its way across the ocean, it was the pilot.”

RENEE RICHARDSON, senior reporter, may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852. Follow on Twitter @Dispatchbizbuzz.