Sidewalk cafes, steakhouse to join downtown

Eric Zackrison and Scott Tillman are renovating the backside of the old Mansfield Opera House at 314 S. Patton Ave. to create space for Hickok’s Steakhouse and Brewery. Zackrison plans to open by early September, but he declined to disclose the cost of renovations.

Across the street, Zackrison hopes to add sidewalk seating for 40 this summer in front of his two downtown eateries, Agrario and Patton Alley Pub, 311 and 313 S. Patton Ave.

“The city used the quarter-cent Community Block Development Grant funds to do the sidewalks, and we paid for the extra cost to extend out the extra eight feet,” Zackrison said.

Phil Broyles, assistant director of public works with the city of Springfield, said Zackrison’s cost for the project was $5,500.

Marco’s Pizzeria, 301 Park Central West, has submitted plans to the city for sidewalk seating as well. Owner Mark Williams hopes to add seating for about seven.

No sale

Philip Dreshfield’s Waves of Grain Bakery, which opened in June 2004, has expanded from the 400-square-foot storefront at 208 W. McDaniel, leased from Mary Faucett of Nonna’s Italian American Café.

He has taken over the 275-square-foot second floor as an office and work room.

The extra space was needed for increased production. In August, Dreshfield was producing 100 pounds of dough daily, and now he makes 250 to 300 pounds daily to bake bread for 14 commercial customers including The Tower Club, Big Easy Grill, Mud House and Ocean Zen.

Dreshfield’s business almost increased even more with his recent offer to purchase Nonna’s, 306 South Ave., from Mary Faucett for an undisclosed amount.

“I backed away from the deal. Not the right thing at the right time nor the right price. I figure I’ll just hold my breath and wait for another opportunity, maybe next year,” he said, adding that he plans to open Waves of Grain Bistro within the next 12 months.

Nonna’s, said Mary Faucett, isn’t “actively for sale.”

“(Dreshfield) had an idea and he was pursuing it, but it didn’t pan out,” she said, declining to disclose details.

Nonna’s has a new kitchen manager, Grant Maledy, who started May 20. Maledy said he oversees a staff of four full-time and 15 part-time workers at Nonna’s.

For sale

Across the street, where Faucett first opened Nonna’s in 1993, South Avenue Pizza and The Bar Next Door now operate at 307 South Ave.

Owner Jim Lack, who said he bought out business partners Chris Cessna and Jennifer Price-Cessna in October 2003, runs the business under the corporate name Young, Broke and Incorporated. Lack, who has about 16 employees, said he’s ready for a new challenge.

“I’m just ready to do something else,” he said. “I managed the place for three years before owning it, so I’ve been here for about 10 years. It’s just the day-to-day restaurant grind is starting to wear away on me.”

He has listed the business for sale for an undisclosed asking price with two individuals who he declined to identify.

Meanwhile, Young, Broke and Incorporated, according to records at the Greene County Recorder of Deeds office, has $51,529 in active federal tax liens. Putting the business up for sale, Lack said, has nothing to do with its tax debts.

“It’s just the way money comes in it’s hard to pay everything on time,” Lack said. “It’s pretty much you’re spending your money paying for food and products and stuff that’s coming in and when it’s time for tax season you kind of buckle down or get a loan.”

Fanning the Flame

Billy, Sara and Mike Jalili are expanding Flame, 314 W. Walnut St., to create a private banquet room one door to the east, at 310 W. Walnut St. Both locations are leased from Recess Properties.

Billy Jalili anticipates opening the banquet room, which will seat about 70, in mid-July.

[[In-content Ad]]