On the count of three, Maddalena’s owners, Mandy Yannucci and Emily Hansford, cut the ribbon of their Italian restaurant’s grand opening Nov. 19, spotlighting their hard work and dedication to their business.
Kent Mayor Jack Amrhein and Kent Chamber of Commerce board members joined the ribbon-cutting to honor the new business owners.
The ribbon cutting started at 4 p.m., but people were lining up early inside and outside the restaurant despite the cold weather.
The restaurant has already been open for about four months, but the grand opening recognizes the time and effort the owners and staff put into making the restaurant everything it is.
“I am so proud of everything that we’ve accomplished. It’s a long time coming,” Yannucci said. “Of course, we’ve been open for a few months already, but to be able to do this and be officially recognized by the city means the world to us.”
Located on 252 N Water St., Maddalena’s offers a fine dining experience, from the food to the atmosphere. The crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling contrasts with the restaurant’s brick walls and wooden bar.
Housemade focaccia from Maddalena’s Italian Ristorante’s dinner menu during the grand opening celebration on Nov. 19, 2025. (Jasmine Williams)
Staff members like Paige McGaffick and Joshua Swartz are also excited about the grand opening and what it means for the restaurant.
“I’m excited for people who haven’t experienced the restaurant to experience it because it is everything I think everyone has been saying it is,” McGaffick said. ”I’m excited for more people to experience how incredible this place is.”
Swartz agreed, excited for the community to come out and enjoy the restaurant as much as he and the rest of the staff members do.
Upon walking into the restaurant, customers were greeted with tables set with menus and silverware. Small vases of flowers added vibrance to the scene.
The menu ranges from wood-fired pizza to various pastas, entrees and salads, along with wine, beer and an array of specialty cocktails.
“We want everybody to feel like they’re eating at their nonna’s house and have a wonderful dining experience with amazing food, top-notch service [and] hospitality beyond,” Yannucci said.
The preparation of the food comes from both Hansford and Yannucci. Hansford puts together the meals in the kitchen while Yannucci develops the drinks served at the bar.
“Emily puts her heart into everything that she makes, so it’s also very nice that she’s always in the kitchen working. Everything that you’re eating is made by the owner,” Swartz said. “Mandy and all her creations are amazing, with her drinks and her expertise.”
Many customers at the grand opening discussed how much they enjoyed the food. First-timers talked about hearing great reviews from others about the restaurant.
The story behind the restaurant name comes from Yannucci’s nonna. When the time came to name the restaurant, Yannucci realized that her nonna’s name fit perfectly.
Maddalena’s staff member, Susan Reer, chats with customers at the Italian restaurant’s grand opening event on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. (Jasmine Williams)
“It was my lifelong dream to own an Italian restaurant named Maddalena’s. Maddalena was my nonna, and the name fit,” Yannucci said. “We wanted it to be feminine and beautiful, and that name just worked for what we have done.”
The theme of “family” continues throughout the restaurant. Staff member Susan Reer, a sophomore marketing major at Kent State, loves working at Maddalena’s because of the positive experience she’s had there.
“They really care about their workers here. They care about the food,” Reer said. “It’s just kind of refreshing to see that there’s people that do care. You’re not just another employee to them, and I actually love working here. The food is amazing.”
McGaffick appreciates the “family-oriented, women-driven” space created by Yannucci and Hansford in the restaurant. Swartz mentioned how the staff members feel like “basically family.”
Maddalena’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. More information and menus can be found on Maddalena’s website and their Instagram page.
“If you haven’t eaten here, you have to eat here,” McGaffick said. “It’s more than just … the food. It’s about the experience the second you walk in the door.”
Loreal Puleo is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
Dining and Cooking