Clarkston is getting a new restaurant and keeping a staple establishment at the same time.
Joe Vicari, president and CEO of Andiamo, a chain of Italian eateries in the Metro Detroit area, signed a purchase agreement to buy Mesquite Creek, 7228 North Main Street, in April from bankruptcy court for $1.2 million.
The restaurant will remain a Mesquite Creek location, but it will be an Andiamo carryout location for lunch and dinner also.
Vicari said Creek’s menu will stay the same for the most part, with only a quarter of the menu items changing.
Vicari’s ownership will become official in October.
The Independence Township Board of Trustees voted Sept. 19 to approve the transfer of Andiamo’s liquor license from Mesquite Creek.
Vicari hopes to line up an estimated $400,000 in renovations and have those completed by Dec. 1. If he is unable to get those in order, the remodel will not take place until January 2007. He hopes to be closed for only three weeks when the renovations take place.
Vicari’s ideas for renovating the 8,000-square-foot building includes putting in a new bar and remodeling the dining room and kitchen.
‘It’s really going to be a complete remodeling,? he said.
Clarkston is a great place for him to open a new location, he said.
‘It’s a very nice community and very nice people. I am certainly excited about the growing community and the city has been very cooperative.?
Additionally, patrons will be able to order many of the signature items from other Andiamo locations, to go.
This will be the 10th location for the Andiamo franchise. For Vicari, in business since 1984, this will be his 18th restaurant.