The Rockne’s Pub in Stow recently closed, but the building won’t be empty long, and the family that has run restaurants at that location will stay.
Rockne’s, on Hudson Drive, officially closed May 12, the day the franchise license expired, said owner Dan Mazzola.
“I have a son and a nephew that have worked for me for more than 20 years, and they are going to start a new restaurant here in our plaza, a new concept,” Mazzola said.
Son Todd Mazzola and nephew Josh Speas, who have worked with the older Mazzola for more than 20 years at the Rockne’s location and its predecessor Grinders, also operate Darby’s on 59, on Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls. The two have run Darby’s for nearly 10 years.
The new restaurant, which will be called Steele House Kitchen and Bar, will be similar in concept to the Cuyahoga Falls eatery, which offers “classic American cuisine,” including filet mignon sliders, burgers and tacos, as well as Wednesday wine night, craft beer and cocktails.
Mazzola expects it to open by late summer or early fall.
“We’re going to have a lot of the same menu items, the very popular ones, and have them at both locations, but we will both also have our own unique menu items,” Mazzola said. The former Rockne’s is a larger location and can offer more flexibility in terms of menu offerings.
Mazzola said that he and his dad built the plaza where the former Rockne’s is located in 1997, and he opened Grinders in 1998. Grinders was changed to Rockne’s in 2007.
“I’ve been running this restaurant for 27 years, and my son and nephew have been helping out,” he said. “They will be running it with my help. The Mazzolas are still here, we are just changing horses. The new restaurant will be run primarily by them, but I’m not ready to retire.”
There are still Rockne’s restaurants in Akron on Merriman Road, Cuyahoga Falls on Bailey Road, Fairlawn on West Market Street, Kent on East Main Street, Massillon on Lincoln Way West, North Canton on Portage Street, and Streetsboro on state Route 14.
Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Close one door, open another: Stow Rockne’s closes, but new restaurant to open by fall
Reporting by April Helms, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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