Roma’s on track for mid-July opening

Craig Korvela has a full plate – no pun intended – and it’s about to get fuller.

The restaurateur is bringing Roma’s Italian Eatery to Owatonna, while working on another new restaurant in Northfield, his second business there.

Korvela said the local project is coming along, with occupancy expected in less than a month.

That will leave his team about six weeks to prepare for opening day, planned for mid-July.

Of course, in this age of supply and staff shortages, nothing is certain.

“We’ve hired our management team,” Korvela said, “but everybody’s biggest concern is hourly labor. That’s actually looking a lot better” at his current restaurants: Redemption, in Faribault, and Reunion, also in Northfield.

Still, he said, “we can’t open without that part of it.”

Roma’s is expected to employ 40-45 full time and part-time staff. Because of the proximity to Redemption, Korvela said, those employees “might be a resource that we can use,” if necessary.

Some of the furniture for the new restaurant may also arrive later than expected, but “we have other ways to move that target” of being ready by mid-July.

Roma’s, which Korvela calls “an Italian restaurant, slightly elevated – but not bullish prices,” will serve both lunch and dinner. It will have a seating capacity of about 165, including a bar and lounge area.

While the core of the menu will be what could be considered traditional Italian favorites, there will be “some things considered ‘normal,’” he said.

The pasta will be made in-house, and better yet, on display for patrons to watch.

The pasta extruder will be in the deli/retail section of the restaurant, which will have an entrance on Vine Street. Carry-out orders from the restaurant will be executed there.

The deli will feature hot or cold sandwiches made to order, as well as cannoli, tiramisu, gelato and more.

The desserts will also be available inside the restaurant – the gelato served by the scoop or by the flight, Korvela said.

“We plan to have something like 12 varieties, so a flight would be three” options.

Mohs Contracting has done “an excellent job since they got on the project,” Korvela said. It was a large ask: Bringing back the original form of the building, pulling back layers of history, then rebuilding the new layout for Roma’s.

The original brick has been exposed, and new windows have given the façade a sleek look.

Though the brick is beautiful, it’s not conducive to just any kind of signage, Korvela said. A proposed upright sign on the corner of the building won’t be used, he said, “because that brick can be compromised. With the weight of the sign, and you add some wind…”

So it’s back to the drawing board for that detail, but Korvela doesn’t anticipate any other issues with licenses and permits.

The building was the home of Jerry’s Supper Club for nearly 50 years.