By Karen Middleton
Four months after Giovanni’s Italian Bistro closed its doors on the north side of Athens’ downtown square, a new Italian restaurant is scheduled to move in.
Danny Causey, owner of Luciano’s on Airport Road in Huntsville, will open in the same building vacated by Giovanni’s.
“Our goal is to be open by June 1, and we’ll probably achieve it,” said Causey. “I’m interviewing chefs right now.”
The long-anticipated Giovanni’s moved into the old Wilson’s Fabric store in July 2007. Derrick Young and Johnny Furline, partners in Flagship Development Co., bought the building and financed the build-out. The partners also provided some of the start-up capital.
When Giovanni’s closed in early February, seven months after opening, owner Rod Ross said that a combination of too many new restaurants and beginning business “undercapitalized” made it impossible to remain in business.
Causey said he would bring some of his staff over from Huntsville to the Athens Luciano’s.
“I have a team of chefs in Huntsville and I’m going to bring two of those to Athens and a few other key employees, plus some new employees, and that should make everything go smoothly,” Causey said.
Causey has operated Luciano’s on Airport Road for 3 1/2 years.
“It’s not the same as when I bought it,” he said.
Causey said patrons will find that all of his dishes are made fresh.
“Our fish and seafood is flown in four times a week.” He said. “We, of course, will serve a lot of pasta, but also fish, veggies and steaks. We’re going to try to do it all because there are some people who don’t want just pasta.”
Causey said he was looking forward to opening a restaurant in Athens.
“It’s a beautiful restaurant in a beautiful location—it’s just an awesome place,” he said. “I believe it will be good for my business and good for the community to have a stable Italian restaurant.”
Causey said anyone who would like to apply for a job should call him at (256) 683-7682.
“We have openings for all positions,” he said.
