Cassano’s to redevelop two existing Springfield restaurants

Cassanos is building a new store right next to its existing location on South Limestone, then plans to close the existing store. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Cassanos is building a new store right next to its existing location on South Limestone, then plans to close the existing store. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Regional pizza chain Cassano’s is building a new store next door to its existing location on South Limestone Street, and the company is also planning improvements to a second location.

The company has four stores in Springfield, said Chip Cassano, CEO for the chain. But the store at 2123 S. Limestone St. is an old Arthur Treacher’s Restaurant built in the 1970s that Cassano said has outlived its purpose. Instead of remodeling, Cassano said it made more sense to build a new, modern restaurant from the ground up and then demolish the existing location.

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He said the new store, which is being built directly next to the current location, will include a pickup window, a more modern spacious dining room and a better kitchen.

“It’s just an old building and it wasn’t built for us,” Cassano said of the existing location.

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The new store could be open as early as March depending on the weather, he said. The company isn’t expanding, but it is taking a close look at its existing locations and making sure its stores are providing what customers want, he said. Once the store on South Limestone Street is complete, he said the chain is planning to start a similar project at the Springfield location at 901 N. Bechtle Ave.

“The company is 65 years old and we have a lot of old buildings,” Cassano said.

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The restaurant chain has made similar decisions about other restaurants in the area. The chain previously operated a restaurant in Fairborn across the street from a Speedway gas station at 179 E. Dayton Yellow Springs Road. But Cassano said in general there has been a shift where several businesses moved further down the street. So the chain recently closed that site and opened a new location at The Shoppes at Valle Greene development. That shopping center has also seen a new Kroger Marketplace store and a new Starbucks location open.

He estimated the chain employs between 550 and 600 workers in the region.

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