The long-in-the-works Pasta House restaurant under construction in Festus has begun to take shape, says Don Bolinger, one of the owners.
“We’ve got the foundation poured and the frame is starting to go up,” he said today (May 5). “We’re starting to work on sidewalks.”
Bolinger and his wife, Rhiannon, along with Buddy and Nicki Fresta of St. Louis are developing the Pasta House restaurant in the western edge of town. It is being built on Galemore Street near Pounds Road, on property next to the Bolingers’ existing business, ATG Sports, which sells and installs RamTurf, a type of artificial turf for athletic fields.
The Bolingers of Festus and the Frestas of St. Louis also co-own a Pasta House in Union.
Bolinger said his group originally sought a quicker start-up for the Festus Pasta House. Early plans called for a November 2013 opening, and a revised plan targeted a June 1, 2014, debut.
“We’re now looking at early August,” he said. “It’s kind of taken longer than we’d hoped.”
He said his group soon will begin interviewing potential Pasta House staff.
“We’ll start the hiring process in the next 30 days,” Bolinger said. “We’ll need to begin training.”
He said he is gratified by all the interest in the arrival of the Pasta House.
“We’ll be making spaghetti soon,” he said.