Emporians who have been hoping for an Italian restaurant in town may get their wish soon, but it won’t be an Olive Garden.
Maurice Schmidt of Ek Real Estate confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the former Pizza Hut restaurant at 831 W. Sixth Ave. has been leased to two Texas restaurant owners who plan to renovate the building and open an Italian Garden restaurant.
Schmidt said the building, which is owned by Topeka real estate firm Lindemuth has been leased to Gzim Veseli and Muhamed Qerimi, who have an office in Fort Worth, Texas. They have a chain of Italian Garden restaurants in Texas and Oklahoma. This will be their first restaurant in Kansas.
The partners took possession of the building March 20 and plan to open the restaurant in six months. They have a two-year lease on the building and an option for another two years.
Dido1969 (anonymous) says...
Good…does anyone know anything about the chain? Is there a website? The rumor was that this was the same Italian Garden out of Wichita, but obviously it isn’t. We’re hoping that it is affordable and that the food is good…great Italian cuisine is like great Mexican cuisine…the best foods are often very simple, inexpensive, and fresh…when they break that formula the results are often “iffy”…
March 25, 2009 at 2:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Absolute (anonymous) says...
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
March 25, 2009 at 3:09 p.m. ( permalink )
hickory (anonymous) says...
Absolute......are you absolutely sure that's the same guy? If you aren't sure, you shouldn't be posting a link that could defame a person. That name could be as common in the country of his origin as John Brown is in this country.
March 25, 2009 at 4:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Blackshirt (anonymous) says...
Might not be the same guy but it at least needs to be looked into.
March 25, 2009 at 4:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slvrnblck (anonymous) says...
I agree Blackshirt.
Abolute may be jumping the gun but at least he is doing a little research.
March 25, 2009 at 5:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spectator (anonymous) says...
Guess I missed the absolute post but I have no problem with someone doing research on a new business or posting a link where I can do my own. Maybe this is a good restaurant (I sure hope so!) but if it's not a good place to go, I'd rather know ahead of time so I can go elsewhere.
March 25, 2009 at 6:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Way to make newcomers to Emporia feel welcome.
1 less empty building
probably 30+ new jobs
not to mention the probable remodling dollars spent and an increse in sales taxes in Emporia, if people don't have to leave town for good spagetti.
March 26, 2009 at 7:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cookatwork (anonymous) says...
Here is the website - http://italiangardenonline.com/
The menu looks good and the prices are comparable to other places. Yummy!
March 26, 2009 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
deluvly1 (anonymous) says...
Weird to me how someone, dido, asks a simple question, suddenly there is a bizarre reply from Absolute that has to be removed, then a discussion about what has been removed…I use my machine for information, too bad others use it to broadcast some sort of weird agenda. Get a flippin’ life, please, and go hang out on some weirdo website and leave the rest of us alone…
March 26, 2009 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thanks cookatwork. I took a look at the menu and thought the prices were quite affordable. Can't wait to try their canneloni.
I celebrate new employment and putting an empty building to good use.
Hey open_eyes, I may have found yet another place to market my basil. I'd better plant more.
March 26, 2009 at 10:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mythoughts (anonymous) says...
Anyone that serves tortellini gets my vote. I hope they open quickly, and I hope they're delicious. Imagine! Sushi AND Italian all in one year!
March 26, 2009 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )