Louisville, KY., – Kevin Grangier and Belle Noble Entertainment Group, LLC, have formalized the company’s plans to locate its seventh experiential dining concept at 2210 Holiday Manor Blvd in Holiday Manor Shopping Center. Grassa Gramma will offer authentic northern and southern Italian fare in an experiential environment, consistent with Grangier’s current concepts The Village Anchor, The Sea Hag Pub, Le Moo Fine Steak House, Blue Moo Supper Lounge, Kevin’s PICNIC and PICNIC Office Catering.
Grassa Gramma is loosely translated in Italian to “Plump Grammaw”.
The approximately 7,000 sf restaurant and bar will be located at Holiday Manor shopping center in the space formerly occupied by Emperor of China for 30 years and will seat approximately 250. It will offer authentic northern and southern Italian fare, including house-made pastas, sauces, pizzas, breads and pastries. The restaurant, expected to employ 100, is scheduled to open early 2018.
“I’m thrilled to bring to life what I believe will be the most authentic Italian dining experience in Louisville,” said Belle Noble Founder, President & Chief experience Officer Kevin Grangier. “My love for Italy and Italian food will be infused at every level of this long-anticipated project.”
Grangier, who founded Belle Noble Entertainment Group in 2010 following a successful 20-year career in consumer product brand development, marketing and communication, is the creative inspiration behind Belle Noble’s now seven brands, including Le Moo Fine Steak House which was
recently named by Food Network as one of the top 25 best places for steak in the U.S. Grassa Gramma’s dinner entrée prices will range from $15-27; lunch from $12-16. A 1,000- bottle Italian wine inventory will serve as the foundation of the restaurant’s beverage program. Long-time New York and local Italian restaurant veteran Tarek Hamada has been named general manager. Hamada currently serves as sr. manager and maître d’ at Le Moo.
“When I joined Belle Noble and Le Moo in 2016,” Hamada explains,” it was to understand the nuances of Kevin’s restaurants; always with the plan to move into the Italian concept.
“Serving on the leadership team at Le Moo has been an important experience that has prepared me for this move,” he said. “It has helped me to understand the unique customer-experience-focused standards for which Kevin and the Belle Noble restaurants are known.”
Hamada formerly served as manager for local Italian restaurant Volare from 2004 to 2016, and with New York’s popular Italian restaurant Pearl Room from 2002-2004.
“I’m thrilled to return to the Brownsboro Road corridor and to the community I know so well,” Hamada said, “with a customer base I respect and love.”
Christian Saylor, who is currently an assistant general manager at Belle Noble’s Village Anchor in Anchorage, has been named one of Hamada’s three assistant general managers. A number of local and national chefs have been interviewed for executive and sous positions, though none have been formally named, according to Grangier, who is also actively searching to fill pastry and pasta sous chef positions at the new space.
Grangier has selected local contractors and consultants to bring the restaurant to life, including architect Doug Schmitt, builders Campisano Partners, legal firm Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, Republic Bank and Details Design Group to consult on the interiors. As he has done for each of his concepts, Grangier will serve as the lead creative influence and designer for the Italian eatery.
“I know what I’m getting into,” said Schmitt, who’s worked with Grangier for nearly eight years, beginning in 2009 with the popular Village Anchor and Sea Hag Pub in Anchorage. “Kevin always has a defined idea of what he believes will work and challenges everyone on his team to get there,” he said. “Together, we bring to life beautiful, experiential and globally recognized spaces that add to Louisville’s food landscape; and I’m thrilled to continue to play a key role in that.”
“This Italian concept is our fourth with Kevin, starting with The Village Anchor in 2009,” said Lesa Buckler, owner of Details Design Group. “We are fortunate to have a long history working with Kevin to implement the fresh ideas he brings to Louisville, and are always excited about the role we
play to bring his brands to life.”
“This is the first project we’ve worked on with Belle Noble,” said Nick Campisano, managing partner with Campisano Partners on Frankfort Ave. “Our team knows Kevin’s restaurants well and we are already enjoying the challenge of creating an experiential space consistent with The Village Anchor, Le Moo and Kevin’s PICNIC.”
Rob Penta, an attorney with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP, who managed the lease negotiation, will continue to be responsible for all legal aspects of the project. Louisville-based Belle Noble Entertainment Group, LLC, owns and operates The Village Anchor, The Sea Hag Pub, Le Moo Fine Steak House, Blue Moo, Kevin’s PICNIC and PICNIC Catering. It is privately held by Kevin Grangier. Bellenoble.com, villageanchor.com, LeMooRestaurant.com, PICNICtravels.com.
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• The restaurant will be located in Holiday Manor Shopping Center located at 4943 Brownsboro Rd. in the Northfield area of Louisville.
• Holiday Manor is owned and managed by Kaden Companies.
• Construction is scheduled to begin immediately.
• The estimated $1.5 million construction project is primarily funded by Belle Noble with support from
Republic Bank & Trust Co.
