Patrick and Peter Padula, owners of Apple Annie’s and Grazer’s Chop House, are opening two new businesses — a drive-through coffee and ice cream shop and Italian market –— at Fort Pierpont.
The coffee and ice cream shop will be called Annie’s Coffee and Creamery and will be geared toward Cheat Lake residents who want the convenience of a nearby drive-through coffee shop. Patrick Padula said they used the name Annie because of Apple Annie’s, a bakery and restaurant in nearby Pierpont Landing.
“Annie’s Coffee and Creamery should be open in the next week to 10 days,” he said.
The San Marzano Italian Market will offer specialty breads, pastas, deli meats and Italian foods not typically found in Morgantown, said Padula, adding San Marzano is a type of plum tomato from Italy found at the foot of Mount Vesuvius.
“I am Italian and it seems like an under-served market,” said Padula, adding he hopes to eventually have specialty sandwiches at San Marzano.
“Right now we’re going to just have food.”
Both the market — which should open before the end of the year — and Annie’s Coffee will be located in the new retail center near Planet Fitness. Padula said the building, owned by developer Dave Biafora, will be designed so people can walk back and forth between the two businesses.
The new businesses are expected to employ 15 to 20 full- and part-time workers, he said.
Because of the success of Apple Annie’s — the Padula brothers’ flagship restaurant — Patrick Padula said they are planning to open one in Fairmont in Middletown Commons.
“That will be open in late winter or early spring,” Padula said.
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