SCRANTON — A new dining option will bring contemporary Italian food to a familiar place on North Washington Avenue.
More than three years after Paul Blackledge and Joshua Mast closed the restaurant at Posh, new managers Cindhy Martinez and Jacob Gandaro of Taylor plan to bring new life to the space through Bukatini at Posh.
A soft opening is Wednesday and Thursday before the restaurant fully opens to the public Monday, Martinez said. After originally opening for dinner, Martinez, 36, aims to add a lunch menu in a few months.
Blackledge and Mast, co-owners of Posh Events and The Colonnade, will serve as consultants.
“The goal for us was to get back and be landlords and let them have their space and do their thing,” Blackledge said.
Blackledge believes the restaurant’s location, 404 N. Washington Ave., makes it an attractive destination in the city for both residents and travelers.
“The good thing about that space is its proximity to the (Scranton) Cultural Center,” he said. “When Posh (Restaurant) was open, we were always busy whenever there was a show in town. Three years later, we still get phone calls from people going to a show there that would like to dine with us. Now, we’ll be able to continue that tradition.”
Blackledge described the revival of the restaurant inside Posh as “bittersweet.”
“We had a great 10 years at Posh and we’ve always thought it’s a wonderful space,” he said. “We’ve continued to use it for private events, but it is a great restaurant space. We’re thrilled and excited to see someone else recognizes the potential and I think people will respond very well to it.”
Posh Events will continue managing all private events in the space on the second floor and offering off-site catering, Blackledge said.
Liz Baldi, business development director for Scranton Tomorrow, a nonprofit community and economic development organization, feels Bukatini will be a valuable addition to the downtown.
“Josh and Paul created such a great space in that building over the years and we’re thrilled to have another restaurant go into it,” she said. “It’s adding more to the nightlife that continues to grow.”
Baldi added the new restaurant will fill a void for people frequenting the Cultural Center, as Posh did for many years.
“They were always kind of paired together when you thought of dinner and a show,” she said. “They would book up reservations months in advance based on show schedules.”
Cindhy Martinez, 36, and Jacob Gandaro, 48, center, of Taylor, will operate Bukatini @ Posh, formerly Posh Restaurant. More than three years after Posh Restaurant closed, the new operators plan to revive the space and open a new contemporary Italian restaurant. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Bukatini @ Posh, formerly Posh Restaurant, is set to open more than three years after Posh Restaurant closed. The new operators plan to serve contemporary Italian restaurant. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Bukatini @ Posh, formerly Posh Restaurant, is set to open more than three years after Posh Restaurant closed. The new operators plan to serve contemporary Italian restaurant. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Crab, avocado, pineapple, and lemon oil at Bukatini at Posh. (Courtesy Paul Blackledge)
A beet salad with goat cheese, orange slices, craisins and balsamic glaze at Bukatini at Posh. (Courtesy Paul Blackledge)
Gandaro, 48, previously served as a chef at restaurants in the region including Cusumano in Old Forge and Martinez formerly worked at Cusumano and Rikasa in Pittston.
Martinez cherishes the opportunity to run a restaurant in Scranton amid the developments in the city.
“With all the restaurants opening and all the people, we’re so excited to come here,” she said. “We love it here; I think it’s going to be great.”
Martinez strives to offer a welcoming experience at Bukatini to everyone who comes through the door.
“We want people to feel comfortable coming to the restaurant and just have a great time,” she said. “Our goal is to please people with our food.”
Mast looks forward to seeing Martinez and Gandaro add their own personal touch to the restaurant.
“It’s the perfect combination of Posh Events still maintaining the building and private events, but (also) being able to reopen the restaurant space with a new concept and a new vision,” he said. “It’s great to have somebody who has the ambition. It’s kind of the ambition we had 13 years ago.”