Pasta Express in the works at former Blockbuster

Last edited 8:29 a.m., Aug. 2, 2012

Pasta Express franchisor Matt Krupa is planning a third location of the Springfield eatery in a former Blockbuster on East Battlefield Road.

Krupa, who owns franchise rights to the restaurant chain through Pasta Express Systems LLC, said he expects to finalize the lease of the 321 E. Battlefield Road site Wednesday.

Jared Enterprises Chief Operating Officer Curtis Jared confirmed the eatery is set to occupy roughly half, or 3,000 square feet, of the former movie rental store.

Jared Enterprises, which owns the site and other buildings in Battlefield Plaza including Food 4 Less, has parceled the 6,000-square-foot store into three suites. The Jared Enterprises Web site lists Subway as a second tenant, but Jared said it's up in the air whether the franchisee, who he declined to name, would move from another Jared Enterprises site to be next door to Pasta Express. Another undisclosed franchisee had expressed interest in the third suite, but its corporate entity pulled the plug because it was too close to another location, Jared said.

Krupa, who also owns event venue 425 Downtown, said he is opening the new pasta eatery with B.J. Lowrance and C.J. Miles, the franchisees of the 3250 E. Battlefield Road Pasta Express.

Krupa, who also operates a 3025 W. Republic Road Pasta Express, noted the third eatery would provide a central location for the chain.

"It meets our demographics perfectly - traffic counts, close to a local high school, the amount of rooftops that are over there, the visibility from Battlefield and ease of access to the shopping center," Krupa said.

Krupa purchased the franchise rights to Pasta Express in late 2004 from Bob Ikemeier, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.