A familiar name opens a new restaurant in Modesto

A few folks have asked me what’s happening at the former Jacobs Fine Dining restaurant on McHenry Avenue. I have good news on two fronts: A new restaurant is calling that spot, near the Floyd Avenue intersection, home, and Jacobs has a new site.

David Alonzo recently opened Famiglia Bistro in the former Jacobs site. His name may sound familiar, because Alonzo already runs two popular restaurants in our area: Papapavlo’s in Modesto and Papapolloni in Oakdale. Fans of those eateries don’t need to worry; the new restaurant is an expansion, not a relocation.

“Here, we have a banquet facility for 200 and another for 40,” Alonzo said. “We have had a lot of our guests requesting a banquet room and didn’t have anywhere to do it.”

The cuisine will be familiar to patrons of Alonzo’s other restaurants.

“We do everything from scratch – pasta, pizza, bread.”

I asked what he would suggest a newcomer to the restaurant order. He assured me everything is great: “We make delicious pastas, seafood, chicken, sandwiches, clam chowder,” he said. And while all of that sounds delicious, it doesn’t exactly sound light. But Alonzo said he also offers salads and other dishes made “more in a healthy way.”

The restaurant has a new look and feel in addition to the new name and menu, Alonzo said. “We did some work in here to bring it back to life.”

Famiglia Bistro is at 2501 McHenry Ave., Modesto. It’s open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call 209-544-1784 or find the restaurant on Facebook.

Those looking for Jacobs will be able to find it downtown. According to the restaurant’s website, Jacobs’ new home is at 910 12th St., Modesto. The website says the new location is under construction and will be open soon.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE BUSINESS BEAT: Last year, I mentioned that Memories, a home and garden shop in Modesto’s Roseburg Square, would be closing its doors. Jan Dornan called me to let me know that the shop will shut down in mid-September.

Dornan, who ran the store for 21 years in Escalon before moving it to Modesto, said she will still work with clients from home but wants to take time to travel with her husband.

▪ A new law office has opened in town. Attorney Julie Richardson recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Legal Pathways, 908 13th St., Modesto. According to a news release, Richardson “believes that quality legal services should be available to all, not just to the rich, and she is committed to serving the community in Modesto and surrounding areas.”

For more information, call 209-529-1085 or go to www.legalpathways.net.

▪ The folks at Panera Bread let me know when they plan to open their Modesto eatery – and it’s this week.

According to a spokeswoman, you can get your fix of baked goodies, soups and more starting Monday. The Modesto Panera is located in the Safeway shopping center on McHenry at Briggsmore avenues.

This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 5:19 PM with the headline "A familiar name opens a new restaurant in Modesto."