Restaurant, Wine Bar Eyes Pearl Road Site

A small restaurant and upscale wine bar is looking to open on Pearl Road next to .

Blue Banyon Inc. is seeking a liquor permit for 16888 Pearl Rd., adjacent to the catering company.

City Council on Monday formally objected to the permit, saying it is too early for the company to seek one. Plans for the restaurant have not yet been submitted to Strongsville's Building Department.

But Bill Rini, who owns the Pearl Road building that houses his Taste of Excellence catering company, said he hopes to lease about 3,000 square feet to Blue Banyon for a combination restaurant-wine bar.

"It's going to be a trendy kind of place," Rini said. 

Representatives from Blue Banyon could not be reached for comment.

Rini said the restaurant will serve "small plate food" like tapas and will include an outdoor patio.

Council made its objection to the liquor permit conditional due to a lack of information. Law Director Ken Kraus said the city would withdraw its objection once the Building Department signs off on plans and safety issues.

A Taste of Excellence built a multi-tenant building on Pearl Road last year and moved its catering company here. Rini said he is not involved in Blue Banyon.

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