If at first you really succeed, try try again.
Which is exactly what Michael Del Pietro seems to be doing with his Sugo’s/Babbo’s casual Italian restaurants.
He just signed a lease to put a Babbo’s just south of downtown Columbia, MO, at 1305 Grindstone Pkwy (aka Nifong Rd), in a 3500 SF space that formerly housed a Lampert’s Plush Pig BBQ.
Although both Sugo’s and Babbo’s represent the same concept, Del Pietro chose the latter name because "it just felt more user friendly, more approachable.” He expects that Babbo's to open in 90 days.
Closer to home, it’s full speed ahead at his concurrent project, Trattoria Spezie (in the East Loop at 6118 Delmar), which represents more of a vegetarian take on casual Italian. (Relish caught some early details here). Spezie (Italian for "spices") is scheduled to open in June.
