After years of sitting as an empty plot of land, College Row at North Gate on the corner of State Street and Highland Road is beginning to take shape.A CVS had its grand opening Saturday after more than 20 years without a pharmacy in the North Gate area, and Pita Pit, a pita wrap alternative sandwich shop, will open Sept. 3.Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Buffalo Wild Wings, Shanghai Tokyo Restaurant and PJ’s Coffee are some of the other establishments coming to College Row.After a location on South Acadian Thruway burned down in January, CVS decided to open a store closer to the University, said James Hudgins, CVS district manager. “We wanted to be able to provide for the students and families of the North Gate,” Hudgins said.Clarke Cadzow, owner of Highland Coffees and member of the North Gate Merchants Association, said he is happy to see the new CVS.”We have certainly needed a pharmacy for a long time, so I know the CVS will be appreciated by everyone,” Cadzow said.The North Gate CVS offers a 10 percent discount on photo printing to students with           University ID. The new store is open 24 hours and has “a full line of LSU merchandise,” Hudgins said.The CVS also offers more than 150 more grocery items than a regular CVS and accepts TigerCASH, he said.”We did a lot of research to really cater to the students,” Hudgins said.Carlotta Street resident and geology senior Chris Trantham said he appreciates the convenience of the new CVS.”Instead of having to ride my bike or drive my car out to Walmart, I can go right there,” Trantham said.Pita Pit has more than 300 locations across North America, but local franchise owner Jack Brighenti hopes to bring Baton Rouge flavor to the new location.Brighenti, who is from Florida, also owns the Pita Pit on Magazine Street in New Orleans. He plans to spend more time in Baton Rouge.”It’s important if you’re the owner of a shop to be present providing good customer service,” Brighenti said.Brighenti also plans to offer one thing at the College Row location not available at any other Pita Pit — beer.”We thought it would work well on our menu, and we had a lot of requests in New Orleans for beer,” Brighenti said.Pita Pit will offer $1 beer specials daily, as well as local favorites like Abita and low-carb options like Michelob Ultra, Brighenti said.He said Pita Pit’s different take on the sandwich restaurant will allow it to succeed in a crowded dining market. Pita Pit will stay open until 3 a.m. on weekdays and 4 a.m. on weekends, and it offers breakfast all day.The restaurant will also deliver any time the store is open. “We don’t have set delivery zones. We’re going to deliver anywhere in Baton Rouge,” Brighenti said.____Contact Frederick Holl at [email protected]