Under frigid conditions this morning (Jan. 23), local dignitaries joined those developing a new Pasta House restaurant in Festus for a quick groundbreaking ceremony.
The new restaurant will be built along Hwy. A on the western edge of the city.
Don and Rhiannon Bolinger of Festus are co-developers of the new restaurant, along with Buddy and Nicki Fresta of St. Louis.
Don Bolinger said his target to open the new restaurant is June 1, if not sooner.
“We hope to be open by mid-May,” he said.
Fresta said he thinks Festus is a good spot for a Pasta House.
“I always wanted to put one here,” said Buddy Fresta. “I think it’s a growing area and I always thought it would be a good place for a Pasta House.”
The developers plan to build the new Pasta House on property next to the Bolingers’ existing business, ATG Sports, on Galemore Street near Pounds Road. ATG Sports sells and installs RamTurf, a type of artificial turf for athletic fields.
Attendees at the ground-breaking included Kim Tucci, co-founder of the Pasta House chain. He said the Festus site will be No. 24 in the current Pasta House family. Most are in the St. Louis metro area, although some are in other states.
“The number (of Pasta House restaurants) has gone up and down,” Tucci said. “We even had three in the Dominican Republic at one time, but their economy tanked when ours did and all three closed.”
Festus Mayor Mike Cage said many residents have been asking him and city employees about when the new Pasta House is coming.
“They started talking about this about a year ago and members of the community have been asking us about it,” he said. “We know there’s excitement about when it’s going to open. We’re hoping this will be an anchor that will spur business from here back to Collins. We’re also working on getting a stoplight at Pounds and A.”
The Bolingers and Frestas also co-own a Pasta House in Union.