In the spirit of “it was just time to expand,” Paul Buzzetta will be moving his Sapore Italian Cafe from 403 Lafayette Center in Ballwin to 451 South Kirkwood Road, the space now occupied by Branica of Kirkwood. A Facebook announcement yesterday confirmed the rumor.
If the transfer goes as planned next Thursday, Branica of Kirkwood will cease operations immediately and Buzzetta will implement some “cosmetic changes only,” hoping to reopen soon as a bigger and better Sapore.
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And bigger it will be: the existing free-standing building seats 100 inside and 85 on the elevated, off-street patio with fountain (one of the more aesthetically pleasing patios in town, in our opinion). There’s also additional space in the adjoining strip center that some may remember as Joseph’s and others as Branica Wine Bar. Most recently it’s been an event space, which will be Buzzetta’s intended use.
The larger kitchen will allow Buzzetta to expand the menu, adding some of Sapore’s house specials in the process. His mom, Lia, will continue to bake the bread daily, and we understand that dad is coming along as well. “He’ll be in the kitchen, too, ” Buzzetta explained. “He’s coming out of retirement to help us prep. The whole family is excited about the move.” Expect lunch and dinner service when the restaurant reopens, hopefully by mid November.
And what will be come of the old Sapore? It’s being sold to Ben Anderson, a graduate of the culinary CIA and owner of the former Canoe restaurant in Old St. Charles (and Bradden’s for the last four years). We understand that Anderson’s restaurant will not have an Italian theme, but attempts to reach him were unsuccessful. As always…more as we learn it.
