Tutto Fresco is Moving, Just Not Yet

Stephen White, the owner of , which has been operating in the shadow of Edwards Theater and across the street from city hall for more than a decade, said this week that he does intend to move the site of his popular restaurant but it's not quite a sure thing.

Not yet, anyway.

White said a move down El Paseo to the Kohl's center is dependent upon getting out of the lease on the current site; there is still a year remaining, plus two five-year options. He is looking for another restaurant, non-Italian, to take over the lease.

"It's been a great spot for 15 years," White said of Tutto Fresco's current location. "City hall, the theater, , there's a lot of activity."

He expressed optimism that the move would take place at some point.

"We're definitely looking forward to the move, but with any deal like this there are issues that need to be worked out," White said.

Any relocation would include a three- to five-month timeline, and Tutto Fresco would continue to operate at the current location until the new site was ready. So, Tutto Fresco isn't going anywhere right away.

The major advantages of the new site is a full bar and increased floor space at the location that had previously been occupied by Opah's Restaurant and Bar as well as Finbar's Italian Kitchen.

"We're excited to have a cocktail lounge," White said. "That's one element in our operation that's been lacking. Our plan is to design a patio that's usable for 90 percent of the year—make it partially closed on those cold, windy days.

"We feel we can put what we already have in that environment and be that much more successful."

At the current location, the restaurant can accommodate about 65 diners; at the new location, it could serve about 100 in the dining room, and another 70 or so on the patio.

It would move Tutto Fresco into the same neighborhood of Town Center as restaurants such as , , and .

"It's a bigger space, with a patio, and it gives us a chance to become a restaurant and bar," White said. "Our success is out of being there so long and having a faithful clientele. In the new location I think we'll attract clientele who don’t even know we exist."