Politics & Government

Italian Restaurant Gets Green Light from Borough Planners

Details about the proposed fine dining establishment in downtown Hellertown emerged at the borough planning commission's June 14 meeting.

Details about an upscale Italian restaurant proposed for a historic building in the heart of downtown Hellertown emerged at a borough planning commission meeting held June 14.

Bella's Ristorante, as the eatery is supposed to be known, will serve only dinner, chef/owner Vincent Cavataio and business consultant Jaringo Grace told members of the planning commission at the meeting.

The restaurant will fill ground level commercial space occupied by the former Secrets salon and Java Queen Coffee House at 639-637 Main Street, and will be connected to a coffee shop called Cafe Erika that Grace said will be open daily from 5 to 9am.

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The restaurant will be open six evenings per week, from 4 to 9pm, Grace said.

Its weekend hours of operation may be extended a bit and the restaurant will be closed Mondays, she added.

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There are currently no plans for outdoor dining, but adding tables for al fresco meals may be something the business's owners will consider doing in the future, she said.

According to Grace, an agreement with the neighboring St. Paul United Methodist Church would allow the restaurant's patrons to park in the church's parking lot during its hours of operation.

Planning commission member Phil Weber asked her about the terms of the agreement, and what the restaurant's owners would do if the church decided not to renew the agreement in a year's time.

Solicitor Michael Corriere subsequently recommended that Grace approach the church's trustees on behalf of her clients, and request a lease agreement that would guarantee the use of parking for an agreed to period of time.

"If you had a lease, at least you'd have something you could sink your teeth into," Corriere said. "If you can get a lease it's better for you."

Grace said she would speak to the church officials with whom she had already spoken about the parking.

Corriere added that it's not mandatory that the owners obtain a lease agreement with the church in order for the business to open, but said "the borough will be more confident" in the enterprise if they do.

Hellertown zoning officer Joe Chernaskey said the restaurant and cafe appear to be a good fit for the location and should compliment the existing downtown area, which has seen dining options expand in recent years.

"This site was ideal for a restaurant," he said following the meeting. "I'm very excited that they're coming in."

Cavataio already has experience as a chef and restaurateur, as the owner of Alcamo Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria in Richlandtown.

A resident of Hellertown, he said his father and brother-in-law will continue to operate Alcamo while he focuses his attention on Bella's in the borough.

After the meeting, he said he hopes the restaurant will be open by the holidays and expects the cafe to open before then.

Bella's will be BYOB and will feature high-end Italian cuisine, although pizza will be available and there will be menu choices for kids, he said.

Both the restaurant and the cafe are named after his two daughters, he added.

A motion to grant final approval for the plan presented by Grace and Cavataio was unanimously approved by the planning commission at the meeting, with members Frank Pazzaglia, Donald Rohrer and Francene Drake absent.


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