WARSAW — When Papa Vino’s Italian Kitchen opens at 11 a.m. Thursday, visitors will start to realize how big it is.

The restaurant on SR 15N near Kohl’s spans some 9,000 square feet. They've hired close to 120 employees and are still taking applications. 

The seating capacity is nearly 320 people for the dining area, a full bar, a conference room that can seat 75, and a wine room that offers its own atmosphere.

the company has surveyed the local restaurant scene and determined there is sufficient demand for quality dining, conference rooms, catering and carry-out.

"We didn't build it to be big," said Dan Fitzpatrick, CEO with Quality Dining Inc., which operates two other Papa Vino's among its 150 restaurants in Indiana and two other states.

"We built it to serve guests' needs," he said.

The restaurant includes a large carryout area with a dedicated entrance and parking area and is part of an emerging strategy that began in the aftermath of the pandemic that saw a growing desire among consumers to rely on carryout and the growing online food ordering trend.

Kelli Kuczmanski, marketing director for Quality Dining, said they adopted changes at Papa Vino's in Mishawaka where the carryout business now represents 25 percent of the store's sales.

"We anticipate a very robust to-go business. Families are busy and we know that and we want to have it ready — when you say you need it — we'll make sure it's there" Kuczmanski said.

Fitzpatrick says carryout and catering services will be available on Day One.

Papa's Vino's is the second Italian restaurant to open in Warsaw in recent months.

Salvatori's Authentic Italian Eatery opened about two months ago and has seen strong traffic and very favorable critiques.

The post Papa Vino’s putting an emphasis on carry out appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW -- The race between two Italian chain restaurants to open new stores in Warsaw is gearing up.

Owners of Salvatori’s Authentic Italian Eatery have totally renovated the old Richard’s Restaurant on US 30 and it appears to be close to opening.

The company began hiring for the store a few weeks ago and said in a Facebook post that they were still looking to hire 30 more workers.

Salvatori's has five restaurants in the Fort Wayne area.

Meanwhile, construction at the new Papa Vinos Italian Kitchen on SR 15N is progressing. After a lull in the winter, crews have the basic framework of the building erected.

Dan Fitzpatrick, the CEO of Quality Dining Inc., said they hope to have the store open for business by mid to late June.

Quality Dining operates nearly 180 Burger King restaurants in Florida, Indiana and Michigan; nearly 40 Chili’s restaurants in Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania as well as Papa Vino's in Mishawaka and St. Joseph, Mich.

Hiring for the Warsaw store will begin in May and Fitzpatrick said they would like to find about 100 workers.

The store will cater to special events with as many as three private dining areas available. Another room will be set aside for wine tasting, he said.

He said they have a long history of hosting special events.

He sounded confident about Papa Vino’s future in Warsaw despite not finishing first in the race to open.

"My comment would be best of luck to them. I'm not here to pound on the tables and tell you ours is going to be better than theirs, but I will tell you ours is going to be really good,"
Fitzpatrick said.

A call left with Salvatori's was not returned on Monday.

[caption id="attachment_77440" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Construction on the future Papa Vino's restaurant on SR 15N in Warsaw is making progress. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_77441" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Salvatori's Authentic Italian Eatery on US 30E in Warsaw appears to be just a few weeks away from opening. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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