Center City to get Italian restaurant

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

The Mallozzi Group on Thursday announced a new restaurant for downtown Schenectady, which they’re hoping to have open for the holidays.

The restaurant is to be called Johnny’s and is to be a family-friendly, moderately-priced Italian restaurant, the group said.

Johnny’s is to be located in the rebuilt Center City, directly across from Proctors, and will feature outdoor dining on the patio and porch area of Center City.

Bobby Mallozzi noted the Mallozzi family has been a part of the revitalization of downtown Schenectady since Villa Italia opened in 2005. Johnny’s is a continuation of that, he said.

“We believe in Schenectady,” Mallozzi said. “We are confident that our product in this community will be well-received.”

Johnny’s is to be run by Mallozzi’s brother, John Mallozzi, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America who will serve as general manager. Bobby Mallozzi said the restaurant will focus on homemade, fresh pasta and will serve lunch and dinner.

John Mallozzi, in a news release, called the location at Center City the best spot in the region.

Construction is to start immediately, with opening planned by mid-December.

With the opening, an estimated 25 jobs are expected to be created.

The announcement of a new Mallozzi restaurant comes shortly after the announcement that another is closing.

The Brown Derby in Albany is set to close Saturday, the Mallozzi Group announced recently. The restaurant had failed to meet the group’s revenue projections. Brown Derby staff is to be offered positions at other Mallozzi properties.

The group’s six other properties, continue to do well, they said.

Bobby Mallozzi said they feel the Center City project is “the right fit at the right time.”

The Mallozzi Group also operates the Belvedere Hotel and Mallozzi Banquet facility, both in Rotterdam; Treviso in Albany; the Clubhouse Restaurant at Western Turnpike Golf Course in Guilderland; and Colonie Golf and Country Club in Voorheesville.