Former Zelo GM to open Italian restaurant in South Minneapolis
An upscale Italian restaurant is planned to open in South Minneapolis' Nokomis neighborhood.
The new eatery, called "ie," will be in the former Carbone's building at 4724 Cedar Ave.
Eric Carrara, the former general manager of downtown Minneapolis Italian restaurant Zelo, owns the new venture with his wife, Vanessa. Eric Carrara said the menu will offer a broad sampling of Italian cuisine, and won't be concentrated on any particular region of the country.
"We're looking to differentiate from other neighborhood restaurants with a higher quality product that's still approachable. It will be kind of like" Bar La Grassa, the Italian restaurant in Minneapolis' North Loop district, he said. "Everything will be made from scratch, including our fresh, house-made pastas."
The Carraras closed on the two-building strip mall last week, purchasing the property from A.D. and Janice Dutton for $715,000, according to a Sept. 10 certificate of real estate value. Carbone's moved across Cedar to open an expanded restaurant.
St. Paul-based Flannery Construction Inc. has since begun gutting the structure for ie. Shea Inc. of Minneapolis is doing the architectural work.
Once complete, the restaurant will cover about 5,000 square feet and have 201 seats, with a patio and a private dining room. Unlike most restaurants in the neighborhood, it will have a full liquor license with cocktails, beer and wine.
Eric Carrara said the restaurant will likely open in fall.
Reported by: Bizjournals.com
The new eatery, called "ie," will be in the former Carbone's building at 4724 Cedar Ave.
Eric Carrara, the former general manager of downtown Minneapolis Italian restaurant Zelo, owns the new venture with his wife, Vanessa. Eric Carrara said the menu will offer a broad sampling of Italian cuisine, and won't be concentrated on any particular region of the country.
"We're looking to differentiate from other neighborhood restaurants with a higher quality product that's still approachable. It will be kind of like" Bar La Grassa, the Italian restaurant in Minneapolis' North Loop district, he said. "Everything will be made from scratch, including our fresh, house-made pastas."
The Carraras closed on the two-building strip mall last week, purchasing the property from A.D. and Janice Dutton for $715,000, according to a Sept. 10 certificate of real estate value. Carbone's moved across Cedar to open an expanded restaurant.
St. Paul-based Flannery Construction Inc. has since begun gutting the structure for ie. Shea Inc. of Minneapolis is doing the architectural work.
Once complete, the restaurant will cover about 5,000 square feet and have 201 seats, with a patio and a private dining room. Unlike most restaurants in the neighborhood, it will have a full liquor license with cocktails, beer and wine.
Eric Carrara said the restaurant will likely open in fall.
Reported by: Bizjournals.com
