LUMBERTON — After its longtime location near Interstate 95 was flooded by Hurricane Matthew, newly named Adelio’s Ristorante Downtown is set to open this week in a popular downtown venue that recently became vacant. The exact day has not been determined.

The new location for the Italian eatery, at 111 W. Third St., Lumberton, is the former location of Candy Sue’s Restaurant.

Adelio Cruz, owner of the restaurant, said there were major losses from flooding at his location inside the Ramada Inn on Kahn Drive, where he had served a fateful clientele for 20 years. Before that he had a restaurant on Fifth Street.

He likes the new location because it has a lot more room at 13,000 square feet.

“The small banquet area will seat about 40 or 50 people,” Cruz said. “The big one will seat about 250 people.”

The dining room will seat about 150 while the bar will accommodate about 60 people, he said.

He expects to employ between 15 and 20 people, including full- and part-time employees.

Cruz has put in new carpet, fresh paint and has refurnished the kitchen. For the time being, expect the same menu, including the eatery’s signature Chicken Marsala. After the holidays, there may be some menu additions, he said.

Michelle Cain, who manages the restaurant, said the new location should bring in a lunch crowd. She said there will be different daily specials and an express lunch menu, which is designed to get people seated, fed and out in 30 minutes.

“Moving here gives us an opportunity to serve more people,” Cain said. “Before our facility was smaller. We could only have banquets for 120 people. This is just perfect — where the bar is, where the dining room is, the entrance to the banquet rooms can be separate. It’s just a really good location.”

Customers can choose from a menu of salads, baked pasta with chicken, veal or beef; appetizers, sandwiches, and dessert. There is also a salmon filet entree and a rib-eye on the menu.

Lunch entrees start at about $8 while dinner items run from $10 to $15. At $29, the rib-eye is the most expensive item on the menu, she said.

Roderick Brewer, a bartender, was working to set up the bar on Tuesday. He has been with Adelio’s for three years but worked in the building years ago when it was Blackwater Grille. Brewer said the history goes back even further.

“I remember in the 80s it was a place to buy jeans,” he said. “I just love the openness of it.”

Call 910-671-4747 for information.

Adelio Cruz is opening his restaurant at 111 W. Third St., Lumberton.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Adelios-1.jpgAdelio Cruz is opening his restaurant at 111 W. Third St., Lumberton.

Pablo Carmona, left, and Roderick Brewer get the bar ready for business at the new location of Adelio’s.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Adelios-2.jpgPablo Carmona, left, and Roderick Brewer get the bar ready for business at the new location of Adelio’s.

Terri Ferguson Smith

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Terri Ferguson Smith can be reached at 910-416-5165.