A New Italian Restaurant In La Grange Planned

LA GRANGE, IL — A new Italian restaurant is planned in La Grange, taking the place of the former Altiro Latin Fusion, the village president announced Monday.

GP Italiano is expected to open in June at 1 S. La Grange Road, Village President Mark Kuchler said at a Village Board meeting. The owners are Joseph Dellacroce and Paul Gattuso, Westchester's mayor and owner of Westchester's Paul's Pizza.

"They're excited about it opening," Kuchler said. "It's going to be modern Italian fare. It'll be open for dinner seven days a week. We're looking forward to that."

Before the Village Board meeting, the village's Liquor Commission heard GP Italiano's request for a liquor license. The Village Board is expected to consider the issue at its meeting in two weeks, Kuchler said.

Last July, Altiro closed, saying it was a victim of the pandemic.

"These past few months have been incredible with all of your continued support," the restaurant said in a Facebook post announcing its closure. "Although we wish we could continue fighting and trying, we have to do what's best for the Altiro Group."

Earlier this year, Pazzo Bene, an Italian restaurant, took the place of La Buona Vita at 15 Calendar Ave. In late March 2020, La Buona Vita, another Italian eatery, closed, an early sign that the pandemic would have a big effect on restaurants. Before La Buona Vita, it was Marconi's for years.