Soon Franklin Park residents will have their very own neighborhood restaurant. A husband-and-wife team of industry veterans will open Addella’s at 1485 Oak St. early next year.

A mash-up of their daughters’ names, Karrio Ballard, former co-owner of Barrel oh High, and Victoria Hink, former owner of the Angry Baker, are behind the new concept.

Combining their talents into one space, Ballard says they aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but bring a neighborhood bar and restaurant to an area of town with limited dining options.

Addella’s will be open for lunch and dinner and serve up brunch on the weekends. They’ll aim to be open every day of the week, and are still tinkering with exact hours.

The menu will have a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and bowls, and be vegan- and vegetarian-friendly. Ballard envisions versions of dishes available with and without meat.

“We’re really focusing on trying to make the menu as interchangeable as possible,” he says. “Almost everything on the menu will be able to be made either way.”

For brunch, it will be a buffet-style, all-you-can-eat affair.

There is one thing Addella’s diners won’t find on the menu. Ballard says they won’t serve any fried food.

On the bar side, there will be draft and canned beer of the local variety, and good, solid cocktails.

At 1,600 square feet, Addella’s will seat about 65, with a patio that will add extra spots in the warmer months.

The space Addella’s will inhabit has been patiently waiting for a concept such as this. Neighborhood resident Matt Lutz purchased the commercial property a handful of years ago and started renovations on the building in 2017. Looking to make an impact in the neighborhood, he’d purchased and renovated several other homes around Franklin Park, but 1485 Oak St. was his first foray into building out a restaurant space.

“I live on Franklin Park and I felt like our end of the neighborhood is starved for restaurants,” Lutz says. “Commercial spaces are really hard to buy and renovate in our neighborhood.”

As adjacent Olde Towne East residents, it’s something Ballard and Hink had noticed as well. The couple lives within walking distance of the cluster of Oak Street businesses that once included the Angry Baker, and is still home to spots like the Olde Towne Tavern and Yellow Brick Pizza. But keep heading east, and the options drop off.

With the lack of walkable dining options, Lutz knew whatever went into the space had to appeal to a variety of customers – a neighborhood tavern type of joint where residents could pop-in for a weeknight meal.

It’s exactly what Addella’s looks to bring to the table.

“I love the quality of Vicki’s food and love the fact that Karrio and Vicki live in the neighborhood,” Lutz says. “They are veteran neighborhood restaurant owners who know how to create an amazing restaurant.”

And soon, Addella’s won’t be the only option in the neighborhood. The space is a mere block away from the proposed East Market and development at the Trolley Barn site.

Addella’s is aiming for an early 2020 opening.

For more information, visit Addella’s Facebook Page.