With five months left until the first anniversary of his purchase of the Clarkston Caf?, Curt Catallo may already be sick of paper.
Paper coverings, which draped the windows of the 1928 building for the past six months while restoration took place, were finally removed on Wednesday afternoon.
‘They quietly removed the paper and called it open,? Catallo said.
‘I was going to leave it, but I was ready to see the light, it was time. We quietly unlocked the doors and let the people of Clarkston find us.?
The Caf? was open for business mere hours later, serving up their new-French cuisine from a menu designed by Executive Chef Aaron Cozadd.
‘It was exciting to see the idea come to fruition and the time and care that everyone put into it shows,? Catallo said.
Catallo purchased the building in June from Sign of the Beefcarver Inc. and immediately shut it down for renovations. The paper held firm in the window through the changing seasons. In November, Catallo joked that the crew was hoping to open in late November’the 40 or 45th.
The time gave Cozadd, Catallo and others time to fine-tune their menu, he said.
‘We let him go no-holds-barred with the type of quality he wants to deliver,? he added.
‘There are several standouts and I’m very proud of that menu.?
The 5,000-square-foot main floor of the building is divided into the supper club, which seats nearly 175 people, a ‘pizza and coco? area as it is called, features a full bar. The area can seat 50 guests.
‘It’s amazing. It’s more beautiful than I had anticipated and the food looks better than I could have imagined,? Cozadd said.
‘I’m really excited to be a part of a restaurant like this.?
Cozadd, has worked for Catallo for an extended period in the past decade, starting as a line cook at the Clarkston Union, Catallo’s first renovated restaurant, in high school. He was surprised when he was tapped to be the chef of the Caf?.
‘I didn’t expect an opportunity like this for another five years, I was certainly floored,? he said.
‘I’m certainly glad to take on this challenge.?
Cozadd said the cuisine at the Caf? will be part of a seasonal, constantly evolving menu.
‘I can’t wait until the craziness settles down so we can step back and create new things,? he said.
Catallo said he plans to have an official grand opening ceremony in the coming weeks.
The Clarkston Caf? is located at 18 South Main Street in downtown Clarkston and can be reached at 248-625-5660. The supper club at the Caf? will be open at 5 p.m. every day of the week, closing at 10 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. on Sunday. The pizza and coco side of the Caf? is open from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Mon.-Sat. and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sunday.