MORGANTOWN — The owners of a popular Uniontown restaurant are expanding to Morgantown and plan to open Marilyn’s of Morgantown at Northpointe Plaza in August.
“We wanted to do something in an up-and-coming market,” said John Cellurale, one of the owners of Marilyn’s on Main in downtown Uniontown, Pa.
Cellurale said he and his partners — his brother John, and their general manager, Allen Crutchman — are all hands-on managers who like to have someone present at the eatery at all times.
“Morgantown is also close enough for one of us to always be there,” he said.
The restaurant, named for the Cellurale’s mother Marilyn, will be going into space once occupied by Yesterday’s Restaurant Bar and Grille, said Chris Wilbert of Premier Commercial Real Estate Services, Northpointe’s leasing company.
“We know it will be a great hit,” Wilbert said. “They plan to keep all of the local flavor.”
Marilyn’s of Morgantown will occupy 6,600-square feet at Northpointe. Cellurale said they will add a patio — with a fire pit — for outdoor seating and will also have an event room that can accommodate 120 people. The restaurant will be able to seat roughly 160 inside and an additional 60 to 80 diners outside, he said.
The Morgantown menu will differ slightly from the Uniontown venue, said Cellurale, adding there will be entrees specific to each market. Morgantown will also be open at lunch, something Uniontown does not do.
“The menu is finished and is in the test kitchen,” said Cellurale, who declined to elaborate.
The Uniontown venue features steaks, chicken and pasta dishes, as well as salads and sandwiches. There are also 24 craft beers on tap. Cellurale said Morgantown will have 40 craft beers available.
“The biggest thing for us is that we don’t buy things out of a box or can,” he said. “Everything is made from scratch.” Cellurale said his mother makes the pasta and sauces by hand.
If the Morgantown venue proves successful, Cellurale said they would like to franchise the Marilyn’s on Main concept to three or four other locations.
BY Suzanne Elliott
SElliott@DominionPost.com
Twitter @DominionPostWV
