It’s almost moving day for this popular southwestern Illinois pizza restaurant
Moving day is approaching for Bennie’s Pizza Pub. The downtown Belleville restaurant announced in October that it would be moving to a new location.
At the time of the announcement, owner Bennie Parr Jr. said the target date for opening at the location previously occupied by Panera Bread Co. was March 1, 2021. Parr said they are on track to open on time.
Parr said that the restaurant side of the new location at 113-115 E. Main St. just needs some finishing work and cleaning and that should be done over the next few weeks.
The courtyard side, he added, is a bit behind and may not be ready by March 1. An occupancy inspection by the city still needs to be conducted.
The restaurant’s sign won’t be installed before opening day. Parr said that the City of Belleville has been easy to work with, but approval for the sign permit is still pending. Parr expects the permit to be approved.
As the work nears completion, Bennie’s Pizza Pub is still open at its current location, also on Main Street near its new site. The restaurant had been offering curbside service while pandemic restrictions were in place.
Bennie’s Pizza is now open for indoor dining since the restrictions on indoor dining were lifted on Feb. 4.
Parr said that because the announcement to reopen restaurants for indoor dining was last-minute, they were caught a little off guard. They had already started moving items to the new location, so the current location wasn’t exactly ready to reopen, he said. Tables were not set up, and staff wasn’t scheduled.
It’s been “tricky for doing business,” said Parr, but they managed.
In addition, they had shortened their business hours just before the restrictions were lifted. Even with the earlier closing times, customers dining in will not be rushed to leave, said Parr.
The current hours will likely remain in place until the new location opens, but Parr said they may adjust if the demand is there.
Bennie’s Pizza Pub is located at 124 E. Main St. in Belleville. Hours are currently 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They are closed Sunday. Bennie’s Pizza is open for indoor dining. Curbside pickup is still available. Orders can be placed online at benniespizzapub.com.
Acquire a new appreciation for wine this spring
A former law office in downtown Belleville is being transformed into a new wine bar.
Belleville resident Magda Gilpin, 42, has been working since last May on what will become Grafted Wine Bar & Lounge, located at 310 E. Washington St.
Gilpin’s goal is to create a place where people cannot only enjoy wines but learn about them too.
“I’ve been in the wine business for a while now,” Gilpin said. “I know a lot” about wines and “am most passionate” about it.
Gilpin said she wants to share her passion and expertise with others. People often already know what they like, said Gilpin, but don’t always know where to go from there. They are “curious about other wines,” said Gilpin, “but [they] don’t want to commit to buying whole bottles” they may or may not like.
One place to start is to make “recommendations based on basic preferences,” said Gilpin, who is an experienced sommelier.
Gilpin acknowledged that it’s becoming more common for people to want to know more about what they eat and drink. Are the ingredients organic, where do they come from? These are the kinds of conversations Gilpin said she wants to have with customers.
The business will focus primarily on wine, but limited beer and other beverage options may be available. There will also be limited food offerings, mainly appetizers like cheese plates and charcuterie boards, things that pair well with the wines.
Plans for what will be offered are not concrete. “I have a lot of ideas,” Gilpin said. She will have a better idea “the closer we get to opening.”
Gilpin plans to open sometime this spring but has not yet set an opening date because she said there are too many variables, mainly due to the pandemic.
Collinsville native takes pride in making others look good
A new barber shop has opened in Collinsville. Vibes by Mal Barber Salon owner Jamal Daniels, 27, opened the doors to his new studio Saturday, Feb. 6.
A Collinsville native and 2011 graduate of Collinsville High School, Daniels attended Greenville University and played basketball for the Panthers. He said he’d had ideas about opening a barber studio, especially if a basketball career didn’t work out for him.
Daniels graduated in 2017 from Greenville University’s Briner School of Business. He attended Leonard’s Barber College in St. Louis and graduated in 2018.
Daniels originally opened his studio in Greenville in 2018. While he had built a life and started his business in Greenville, Daniels felt he “served [his] purpose out there” and was “ready to come back home.”
Daniels already has a strong client base in the area and said that customer service is the key to a successful business. He said being passionate about helping people look good makes them want to come back. Customers “gravitate towards people who make them feel good,” said Daniels.
Vibes specializes in haircuts for men. Other services include beard trims, shaves, facials, design and kids’ haircuts. Styling products and other merchandise are also available.
The studio also has space available for licensed barbers/stylists.
Vibes by Mal Barber Studio is located at 231 St. Louis Road in Collinsville. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. For information, follow Vibes by Mal Barber Studio on Instagram @vibesbymal. To make an appointment, call 618-855-9166.
Ravanelli’s in Granite City closes its doors
Ravanelli’s Restaurant in Granite City has closed after 60 years in business.
The restaurant, located at 3 American Village, made the announcement in a Feb. 10 Facebook post. Owners Terry Ravanelli and Steve Edwards had hoped to turn ownership of the restaurant over to current managers, but those managers were not comfortable with taking over because of the pandemic.
A Feb. 12 post on the restaurant’s Facebook page refers customers to the Collinsville location, which recently completed a remodel. Ravanelli’s Italian Steakhouse and Wine Bar is located at 26 Collinsport Drive.