CITY OKS ITALIAN RESTAURANT PLAN
Approval clears way to serve alcohol at former Hopcat site
Pastaio, a new Italian restaurant set to open next month in downtown Royal Oak, got approval from city commissioners on its plan of operation for a liquor license.
Pastaio is taking over the former HopCat restaurant location at 280 W. Fifth Street.
Restaurateur Pasquale Lamarra operates six restaurants in Florida, including a Pastaio restaurant in Port St. Lucie and another in Palm City, with handmade pasta, pizza and other dishes.
“When we came up here (from Florida) we really fell in love with this area,” Lamarra told commissioners. “We truly do care and have great quality food at reasonable prices.”
Customers can see the pasta being made when they dine there, he added.
“We make everything fresh, by hand,” Lamarra said.
Other menu items include shareables, soups, salads and entrees.
Royal Oak Police Chief Corrigan O’Donohue said about $600,000 worth of renovations are being done to the former HopCat restaurant.
Lamarra owns the restaurant with three investors who are commercial real estate investors in Florida, Michigan and Missouri.
Lamarra grew up in Florida and his parents were restaurant owners also, O’Donohue said.
The Pastaio restaurant in Royal Oak will hire locally. Lamarra said he is unworried about finding enough employees, even though restaurant workers have been harder to find nationally since the COVID-19 pandemic began and pay rates increased.
“We were way ahead of the minimum wage thing,” Lamarra said.
The restaurant will have a full-service bar, and have a nightclub lounge on the second floor, which includes a dance floor,
according to a police background report by Deputy Chief Michael Moore.
None of the restaurants Lamarra owns in Florida have had any complaints or violations against them by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations, Moore said in his report. In Royal Oak, Pastaio — which means pasta maker in Italian — will have about 14,000 square feet of space and seating for 245 patrons. O’Donohue said the seating number is 132 fewer than what HopCat had when it was in business. With three floors, each with a bar, Pastaio is planned to have seating for 120 on the first floor, 103 on the second floor, and 22 seats on the top floor.
There will be three outdoor service areas at the restaurant as well. Glass garage doors will be lifted for access to the outdoor areas during warmer weather months, Moore said in his report.
Pastaio is planning to have a DJ on Fridays and Saturdays, and live music during special events.
“The sound will be restricted to a level which will not adversely impact neighboring or adjoining property owners,” Moore said, “and Pastaio will comply with provisions of the (city’s) sound ordinance.”
No music will be played in any of the outdoor areas of the restaurant. Lamarra and his management team of two relatives will oversee daily operations at the restaurant. Moore said they plan to hire employees locally and will train a permanent on-site management team for Pastaio.
In Royal Oak, Pastaio — which means pasta maker in Italian — will have about 14,000 square feet of space and seating for 245 patrons.