The Mahoning County Building Inspection Department said the permit is waiting on zoning approval from the city.

YOUNGSTOWN — Josh Santangelo, co-owner of Republic Pizzeria, is opening a modern Italian restaurant at 103 W. Federal St., the former home of Roberto's Italian Ristorante.

Santangelo told Mahoning Matters he plans to open Prima Cucina Italiana within the next three weeks. Santangelo applied for a permit to perform minor alterations at the site, which the application estimates will cost $15,000.

The Mahoning County Building Inspection Department said the permit is waiting on zoning approval from the city.

Santangelo and his sister and co-owner, Candace, opened Republic Pizzeria e Pub on Youngstown State University's campus in 2018. The pizzeria on Lincoln Avenue specializes in a hybrid of Italian and New York-style pizza by the slice.

"This will be quite a bit more formal [than Republic Pizzeria]. I'll be returning to what I typically do, which is fine dining," Santangelo said.