Carfagna’s ready to open new restaurant, market

Massive operation replaces popular gathering spots

One of central Ohio’s most beloved Italian restaurants and markets gave a preview of its consolidated location on Gemini Place Tuesday.

Carfagna’s Ristorante and Marketplace hosted a private gathering to show off the nearly 30,000square-foot space before it opens next week.

The new location sells wine, meat, cheeses, pastas and other Italian delicacies. A dining space surrounds a rectangular bar complimented with upscale, well-lit decor.

The Carfagna’s name adorns the facade in the shopping center just off Gemini Place near Polaris Fashion Place, with a market entrance on one side, and a restaurant entrance on the other.

The new spot – in the former Earth Fare Market space at 1440 Gemini Place – replaces Carfagna’s Kitchen restaurant on Polaris Parkway and Carfagna’s Market at 1405 E. Dublin-granville Road in the Northland neighborhood. Those two locations are set to close.

Polaris is one of central Ohio’s premier retail destinations, and the Carfagna family, who own the restaurant and market, hope to capitalize on the

“It’s a destination space that makes you want to come and not just get groceries, but immerse yourself in Italian culture.” Luciano Carfagna

mall’s popularity.

“You have destination businesses already in this area, drawing people in,” said Luciano Carfagna.

The new location already had a kitchen, market and cooler space when Carfagna’s took over.

“There was a lot of infrastructure already in place,” said Salvatore Carfagna, Luciano’s brother.

The family made the space their own by adding fancy flourishes and branding the interior with an Italian market theme.

Classes on how to cook items such as pasta,

mozzarella, and pesto will also be available for patrons.

“We want to show the people how we do it,” Salvatore Carfagna said.

Luciano Carfagna said the family is aiming for “experiential retail.”

“It’s a destination space that makes you want to come and not just get groceries, but immerse yourself in Italian culture,” he said.

The current owners are the fourth generation of Carfagnas to run the restaurant and market. Their great-grandfather founded the business as a corner market in Linden in 1937. He sold the dairy, produce and meat he raised on his New Albany farm.

The family opened the E. Dublingranville market in 1971.

Salvatore Carfagna said the family has been looking at a consolidated location since he and his brothers were in grade school, and the family is finally realizing that dream.

“We’re planning on being the ultimate food and beverage experience in Columbus,” said Mike Carfagna, Salvatore

and Luciano’s cousin. pcooley@dispatch.com @Patrickacooley

PHOTOS BY KYLE ROBERTSON/COLUMBUS DISPATCH The Carfagna family is moving the market now on East Dublin-granville Road and Carfagna's Kitchen, currently on Polaris Parkway, into the former Earth Fare Market space at 1440 Gemini Place. The new location, which will be known as Carfagna's Famous Market & Ristorante, will be more than twice the size of the current market and kitchen spaces combined, and allow the family to build a destination store, restaurant, deli and wine and liquor shop.

The new Carfagna's space is more than twice the size of its two former spaces combined.

After a preview on Tuesday, Carfagna's plans to open after Labor Day.

COLUMBUS DISPATCH KYLE ROBERTSON/ The new Carfagna’s includes touches of an old Italian market.