A popular Italian eatery has outgrown its downtown Muskogee location and is moving to U.S. 69.

Johnny V’s, which had been located just south of Arrowhead Mall on Main Street., is due to open Nov. 12 at 1215 S. 32nd St. just south of the Centennial Trail pedestrian overpass.

The relocated pizzeria and grill will share a building with Fatso’s, an entertainment venue and night club. However, Johnny V’s co-owner Steve Vafeas said the two will remain entirely separate.

“Fatso’s will not be open when the restaurant is open, and when the restaurant shuts down, the club will open,” Vafeas said.

Vafeas said Johnny V’s was popular and successful at its downtown location, 315 N. Main St., but it was too small.

“The kitchen was too small for what we wanted,” he said, adding that the restaurant made its own breads and pastas. “And the old building needed a lot of work.”

He said the new location allows him to have “huge restaurant” with two kitchens.

“We’ll be adding more things, including breakfast on the weekends, plus more steaks,” he said. “It will be more modern.”

Vafeas said he’s not vacating the old two-story gray shell that housed several restaurants in the past. It was C.V. Morgan’s, then became Little Italy in 1996. Little Italy owners installed a mezzanine. When Johnny V’s moved there in 2007, nearly all of the Little Italy decor was retained, including a wall of opera posters.

Vafeas said he plans to establish a hamburger restaurant for the “18 and up crowd” in the Main Street building.

“The kitchen is the right size for hamburgers, nachos,” he said.

Co-owner Kerry Vafeas said they haven’t decided on a name for the new place, which will not open until early next year. She said no alcohol will be served.

“It will just be good, clean fun for people 18 and up to get together and shake their groove thing,” she said.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email