Bob Evans to reopen Aug. 18
City native helped design new restaurantBy PAUL GIANNAMORE and DAVE GOSSETT, Staff writers
STEUBENVILLE - The next time Michael Morelli returns home for a visit, he may be able to have dinner in the restaurant he helped design.
Morelli, a 2002 graduate of Catholic Central High School, is now a mechanical engineer for MS Consultants of Columbus.
"We actually design all Bob Evans Restaurants nationwide. I personally work on the HVAC, plumbing, power and electrical," said Morelli.
"Typically, Bob Evans will build a new restaurant before taking down the old restaurant. But in (the Steubenville location) case they had to take down the old one before building the new one. And so we did the design work and their construction managers worked on the actual construction," said Morelli.
Morelli said he pursued an engineering degree because his father is an engineer and his grandfather, Geno Morelli, was involved in construction work.
"I was interested in engineering when I chose Ohio State University and spent four years as an intern at MS Consultants while I was in college. I graduated in 2007 and went to work immediately for MS Consultants. It is a good company to work for, and I like living in Columbus," said Michael Morelli, the son of Mark and Sandy Morelli.
"My work is mainly restaurant and retail design. But I enjoy it and look forward to my next projects," the 24-year-old Morelli said.
He added he has checked on the progress of the local Bob Evans Restaurant when he returns home for a visit.
"I was home a couple weekends ago and went over to look at it. And when I am with friends, I'll point out that I helped design the building. It's nice to see the actual building after designing it," said Morelli.
Steve Govey, area director for Bob Evans, said the new restaurant at Brady Circle West and Sunset Boulevard, will open to the public on Aug. 18. When the former Bob Evans closed, the company had said it would open the new restaurant by Labor Day.
"The construction company, I can't speak enough for how well they worked together to get this up and done and to get it open," Govey said.
The restaurant will add about 25 employees, bringing total employment from 75 before the April 23 closure to 100 employees when the restaurant reopens.
Govey indicated most of the restaurant's previous employees will be returning to the Steubenville Bob Evans.
He said the construction company is expected to complete the building within the next few days, with the management crew to start the hiring process Monday and continuing through Saturday for the next two weeks.
"Our training process will begin Aug. 4 and will run through Aug. 15," Govey said. "We'll take that weekend to get it wrapped up and be ready to service Steubenville and the surrounding community on Aug. 18."
He said the restaurant features a different layout for the dining area and a larger retail area.
"Guests will notice the grill line is no longer viewable from the dining room. It's behind a wall, so the atmosphere will be a bit more comfortable, quieter and more comfortable to sit in," he said. "It's a beautiful building and money well spent to better serve our community."
(Giannamore can be contacted at pgiannamore@heraldstaronline.com. Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)
