SCRANTON — Stefano and Kristy Picciocchi strive to offer an authentic Italian experience on Wyoming Avenue.
Following the closure of their Clarks Summit store after five years in November, they set their sights on Scranton and opened the retail area of the new location on the first floor of the Lewis & Reilly Building – attached to the Oppenheim – on Dec. 6. The grand opening for the full-service bar and restaurant area will be Friday.
Stefano Picciocchi compared the retail section of the business to those in his hometown in Italy.
“It’s outstanding, gorgeous,” he said. “It’s like a typical store you can find in Genoa.”
The restaurant developed a strong customer base for its homemade food in Clarks Summit – with many ingredients sourced directly from Italy – and Kristy Picciocchi has been encouraged by the early show of support in the new, vibrant Scranton space.
“We’ve had a very good turnout, even with just the soft opening,” she said. “It’s better than we ever could have expected.”
Neapolitan-style pizzas have been a hot seller among the lunch crowd as the display case looked mostly bare Wednesday afternoon.
“We keep filling it up and it keeps emptying, so that’s a really good sign,” Kristy Picciocchi said.
In addition to several different varieties of pizza and sandwiches in the retail area, customers can purchase homemade ravioli, lasagna, cappelletti and other favorites by the pound as well as sauces – just like the Clarks Summit location – and the business offers catering services, Picciocchi said.
Stefano Picciocchi, co-owner of Picciocchi’s Pasta, places a pizza on a dish inside the kitchen of the restaurant on Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Kristy Picciocchi, co-owner of Picciocchi’s Pasta, scans an order for customer Joanne Polk of Dickson City inside the retail area of the restaurant on Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton Wednesday afternoon. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Kristy Picciocchi, co-owner of Picciocchi’s Pasta, packs an order inside the retail area of the restaurant on Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton Wednesday afternoon. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
The dining room of Picciocchi’s Pasta on Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
The bar area inside Picciocchi’s Pasta on Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Show Caption
1 of 6
Stefano Picciocchi, co-owner of Picciocchi’s Pasta, places a pizza on a dish inside the kitchen of the restaurant on Wyoming Avenue in downtown Scranton. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
Expand
The larger space – more than twice the size of the previous location – provides more room for both production and dining, and the storefront windows offer a peek inside the establishment.
“We have a bigger kitchen, bigger pasta room, and separate retail lunch area and bar and restaurant areas,” Kristy Picciocchi said. “People can enjoy the same quality food in different settings at different times of the day. People walk by and they’re curious; then they look around and they’re excited about it.”
Casey Donahue, a partner with D&D Realty Group which owns the property, feels the new restaurant adds value to the building and community.
“I think it turned out great and I think they’re going to be really successful,” he said. “As you can tell already, it’s packed. Our tenants love it and it’s great for the block.”
Dickson City resident Joanne Polk used to visit the Clarks Summit shop and stopped by the new Scranton location Wednesday afternoon to pick up some grab-and-go items. Polk specifically enjoys the pizza and walnut sauce.
“I think they’re going to be very busy,” she said. “The food is wonderful and the staff is wonderful.”
Dining and Cooking