An Italian restaurant with a four-season dining addition is planned at the former location of the Fredericksburg Visitor Center downtown.
Jarrell Properties Inc., which now owns the property at 706 Caroline St. and the adjacent parking lot, announced Thursday that the restaurant going into the space will be called IT’s Italian Eatery. It will be operated by Vinny Vitale, a longtime area restaurateur whose other brands include Basilico New York Deli, Impasto Italian Bakery, Zibibbo 73 and Vinny’s Italian Grill.
Vitale was previously involved with the nearby Italian Station, but a shakeup occurred prior to the restaurant renewing its lease earlier this year. (Anita’s Cafe is now in the Caroline Street space that was formerly Italian Station).
The dining addition is being built on the former parking lot, which is currently surrounded by temporary construction fencing. No timetable has been set for the restaurant opening, but the renovation of the 1820 building is underway. Connemara Corporation is the general contractor for the project, which also includes converting the second and third floors into two apartments.
The Visitor Center is now located at 601 Caroline St. on the first floor.
