News Details (Posted: July 11, 2006):

Gondoliers coming to Pinnacle Pointe

Full Description:

"Officials with Gondolier Italian Restaurant say the eatery will be coming to the Pinnacle Pointe shopping center in the Midtown area after all.

The restaurant, which features homestyle Italian cuisine, may be opened by September, according to owner Steve Rizos. At one point, the deal appeared to have fallen through. The restaurant is expected to go in next to Kroger.

"I have got to get the plans ready," Rizos said. "We will start from there."

He hopes to get the plans ready this week and have them approved in the next few weeks so he can start work on his approximately 4,000-square-foot section of the shopping center.

He wants to begin construction as soon as the plans for the interior can be approved, and he gets his business permit.

Rizos owns several area Gondolier, including the one in Lenior City. The Roane County restaurant will be similar to it, he said.

Rizos said the lease commits him to the area for at least 20 years.

"I have had a lot of calls, e-mails. I like the area very much," Rizos said.

"It is going to be a very nice restaurant," said Jerry Duncan, who co-owns the shopping center with partner Steve Kirkham."(www.roanecounty.com)­