Geauga County Maple Leaf April 14, 2011

Joe Ciresi is spreading the good word about bringing a Zeppe's Tavern to Newbury Center.

"It's for real," the pizzeria's founder and president said Tuesday. "Enough of guessing."

Zeppe's is well known in northeastern Ohio for its pizza and, in Hudson, for Zeppe's Bistro. For months rumors have been swirling in Newbury that Zeppe's would be taking over the entire south end of Nacy Panzica's second building in Newbury Center, located at the intersection of Auburn and Kinsman roads.

Ciresi said he has been getting calls from people in the neighborhood wanting confirmation. Now he can finally tell them that, if all goes according to plan, Zeppe's Tavern will open this summer.

Ciresi completed zoning permit applications this week and has asked for several variances from the township. Until the board of zoning appeals approves his applications at an upcoming April 26 hearing, however, his plans are preliminary.

But Ciresi said he doesn't think any of his variance requests are deal breakers for the township. Plans have to go to the county building department for approval, he added, and light construction will begin in May, with an opening as early as late July.

Detailed drawings show Ciresi's project consists of three sections. The west end of the south-facing space will be dedicated to a standard Zeppe's Pizzeria for take out orders. The central area will enclose the kitchen, restaurant and a bar. He has added a third element to the east side: a 2,000-square-foot patio.

The bar will serve both the restaurant inside and the patio outside. Overall, he expects the approximately 6,000-square-foot eatery to seat about 140-160 people. A gas fireplace will add a cozy feeling during the cold months.

The Newbury tavern is going to be his prototype for many more in other cities, so Ciresi plans to keep a close eye on the operation for a while. Although there are Zeppe's franchises all over the region, that is not his immediate plan for the new store.

"I'm going to set up camp there in Newbury," he said. "It's a great location. It's the right market."

He first became interested in Panzica's development when he was working on a project in the area. The demographics for a Zeppe's were strong, so Ciresi called Panzica, who was looking for an anchor for his retail development. When the restaurateur discovered the developer is fond of dining at his bistro, a mutually beneficial deal was worked out.

"We're going to draw from quite an area. I want it to become a destination place," Ciresi said.

Menu ideas are still cooking with his corporate chef, but Ciresi said diners can expect great burgers for reasonable prices and more elegant meals such as lobster ravioli will be affordable, as well. Fresh ingredients are the keystone of the menu, he added, and the bar is fully licensed for beer, wine and mixed drinks.

"We're going to make the best burgers in the business. Everything's going to be delicious," he said.

The pizza takeout will probably be open several weeks before the restaurant, but the tavern will be the scene of practice runs for a while before opening. Ciresi said he doesn't want anyone making excuses about the tavern being new.

Said Ciresi: "We just need to be great from the beginning."

Joe Ciresi is spreading the good word about bringing a Zeppe's Tavern to Newbury Center.

"It's for real," the pizzeria's founder and president said Tuesday. "Enough of guessing."

Zeppe's is well known in northeastern Ohio for its pizza and, in Hudson, for Zeppe's Bistro. For months rumors have been swirling in Newbury that Zeppe's would be taking over the entire south end of Nacy Panzica's second building in Newbury Center, located at the intersection of Auburn and Kinsman roads.

Ciresi said he has been getting calls from people in the neighborhood wanting confirmation. Now he can finally tell them that, if all goes according to plan, Zeppe's Tavern will open this summer.

Ciresi completed zoning permit applications this week and has asked for several variances from the township. Until the board of zoning appeals approves his applications at an upcoming April 26 hearing, however, his plans are preliminary.

But Ciresi said he doesn't think any of his variance requests are deal breakers for the township. Plans have to go to the county building department for approval, he added, and light construction will begin in May, with an opening as early as late July.

Detailed drawings show Ciresi's project consists of three sections. The west end of the south-facing space will be dedicated to a standard Zeppe's Pizzeria for take out orders. The central area will enclose the kitchen, restaurant and a bar. He has added a third element to the east side: a 2,000-square-foot patio.

The bar will serve both the restaurant inside and the patio outside. Overall, he expects the approximately 6,000-square-foot eatery to seat about 140-160 people. A gas fireplace will add a cozy feeling during the cold months.

The Newbury tavern is going to be his prototype for many more in other cities, so Ciresi plans to keep a close eye on the operation for a while. Although there are Zeppe's franchises all over the region, that is not his immediate plan for the new store.

"I'm going to set up camp there in Newbury," he said. "It's a great location. It's the right market."

He first became interested in Panzica's development when he was working on a project in the area. The demographics for a Zeppe's were strong, so Ciresi called Panzica, who was looking for an anchor for his retail development. When the restaurateur discovered the developer is fond of dining at his bistro, a mutually beneficial deal was worked out.

"We're going to draw from quite an area. I want it to become a destination place," Ciresi said.

Menu ideas are still cooking with his corporate chef, but Ciresi said diners can expect great burgers for reasonable prices and more elegant meals such as lobster ravioli will be affordable, as well. Fresh ingredients are the keystone of the menu, he added, and the bar is fully licensed for beer, wine and mixed drinks.

"We're going to make the best burgers in the business. Everything's going to be delicious," he said.

The pizza takeout will probably be open several weeks before the restaurant, but the tavern will be the scene of practice runs for a while before opening. Ciresi said he doesn't want anyone making excuses about the tavern being new.

Said Ciresi: "We just need to be great from the beginning."