Buffalo Township officials are keeping mum about ongoing construction at the site of the former Kings Family Restaurant in Buffalo Plaza along Route 356.
Township Manager Rich Hill declined to comment Wednesday when asked for details on the project at 400 Buffalo Plaza.
But plaza owner Anthony Pompeo confirmed Wednesday that three new businesses, including a Starbucks, will occupy the renovated building.
Pompeo also owns Marc Anthony Construction and Real Estate Development, the contractor handling the project.
In addition, Toasted Amo, an Italian-themed eatery, will occupy a 2,200-square-foot space in the building, Pompeo said. A third, middle space is available for lease.
Toasted Amo is a new concept developed by local businessman Andrea “Tony” Coppola of South Buffalo.
Coppola, 50, has owned multiple restaurants in Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
He owns Tony’s Pizza Cafe, located farther south along Route 356 in South Pike Square.
Toasted Amo will make fast and healthy American/Italian-influenced food available for lunch and dinner, dine-in and takeout.
The word “Amo” is a reference to “love” in Italian. “My food will be a healthy alternative to the fast food around here with smoothies, freshly made sweet potato fries, salads and panini-style sandwiches. If you work out and you want to come to my place, I will have exactly what you’re looking for. People are going to love the taste of the sandwiches,” Coppola said.
Toasted Amo is expected to open in late May.
The Starbucks is slated to open by the end of 2023 and will employ about 25 workers, according to a Starbucks spokesperson. It will feature a drive-thru window.
Pompeo said that after Kings closed, he was approached by Starbucks about opening a location there. Once the pandemic hit, the project was delayed.
“We’ve had every possible thing said about that building,” Pompeo said of the rumors swirling around the community about the construction project.
Construction began about six weeks ago, and Pompeo described the project as a “major overhaul” on the existing building.
The Starbucks will face Route 356 and feature a 200-square-foot outdoor patio for seating.
“I think it will add a lot of traffic. That Route 356 corridor has really come a long way,” Pompeo said.
Sharpsburg-based Marc Anthony Construction is a regional commercial construction company.
In business since 1976, some of the company’s construction projects include the Pittsburgh Field Club in Fox Chapel and the South Hills Audi dealership.
Pompeo has owned Buffalo Plaza since 1999.
Starbucks operates more than 50 locations throughout the Pittsburgh region.
