Luna Rossa moves into Channel Mark building
Luna Rossa at the Channel Mark is expected to be open at Hurricane Pass within the closing days of October, according to its new general manager.
The popular Italian/Mediterranean restaurant at the Miramar Outlets in Estero is undergoing the re-modeling process in preparation of bringing its Italian-themed cuisine with added seafood dishes into the former Channel Mark Waterfront Restaurant at 19001 San Carlos Blvd.
General Manager Adam Mlnarik, who will be running the operations at the new Luna Rossa for business owners Eve and Alex Alves, is involved in the re-modeling stages.
“We’re expecting to be open in about a month,” said Mlnarik, a Missouri native who has lived in Florida for 11 years. “We’re cleaning and painting right now, and expect to open up the dining room a little bit.”
Property owner Mike McGuigan admittedly is particular about what business goes into his commercial building, but is confident about his choice.
“I’ve eaten at Luna Rossa many times and have not had a bad meal,” said McGuigan. “They do a heck of a lot of sales (in the Miramar Outlets). For such a bad economy, they are doing really well.”
McGuigan believes the new owners will be hiring many members of the staff who previously worked at the Channel Mark.
“Other than a few key employees that they will be bringing in from their other restaurant, they anticipate hiring most of the staff back,” he said. “At least six employees used to work for me over six years ago. I personally recommended the re-hiring of those people I knew to the new owners. There are applications available at the restaurant, and they’ll be interviewing and going through the process.”
The Channel Mark Restaurant closed its doors for business last week. McGuigan called the closing a tenant eviction for not paying rent and hopes there is no bad blood between Tim Gilbert, the restaurant’s former business owner, and him.
“I really liked him as a tenant,” said McGuigan. “Unfortunately, Tim has a lot of problems right now. He’s in the Real Estate and Mortgage businesses. That’s the hardest hit industry right now. But, I have to do what I have to do. I have to put someone in there who can pay the rent.”
Gilbert saw it differently.
“I understand where he is coming from, but I thought we had an agreement that he couldn’t do that,” said Gilbert about the broken lease. He expects to bounce back from this unfortunate experience.
“I’m down, but I’m not out,” Gilbert said. “There will be another Tim’s Place.”