A popular Med City Italian restaurant has a younger sibling in the pipeline.
The plan to turn a long-empty southwest Rochester bank into a new eatery called Sorellina's is in the very early stages.
A building permit was filed with the city this week for the “fit-up of the existing building for a restaurant” in the former Associated Bank/First Federal building at 1155 16th St. SW, just south of the Apache Mall.
ALSO READ: Med City strength training center finds new northeast home
Natalie Victoria described the plan to build-out the bistro-style Sorellina’s as a move to create a “little sister” for Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar in the heart of downtown Rochester. She co-owns Victoria’s and The Tap House in downtown as well as The Tap House West End in northwest Rochester.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’ve been working on this for some months,” she said. “Looking to the next generation of our family that’s coming into the picture, we hope to create a small 2.0 version of Victoria’s. That’s what it’s going to be.”
She explained that the family has a purchase agreement with the management of the Apache Mall, which owns the 4,100-square-foot building, to soon buy the 41-year-old property.
While the project is taking its first steps, the goal is to open Sorellina's by the holidays in late fall. Cousins Jordan Victoria and Nadia Victoria are expected to take leadership roles.
The vision is that Sorellina’s will be a smaller, bistro-version of the Victoria’s featuring a large patio.
“This is our chance for our family to kind of grow with Victoria's restaurant… expand our footprint a little bit,” said Natalie Victoria.
ADVERTISEMENT
