Olive Garden will open its newest Tuscan Farmhouse-design restaurant in Duluth, at 901 Mall Drive next to Home Depot, on Monday. This is the second Tuscan Farmhouse-design Olive Garden to open in Minnesota. The first opened in Rochester in December 2002.
More than 160 jobs will be created with the opening of the 183-seat, 6,895 square-foot restaurant.
"Duluth is located in one of the fastest growing metropolitan regions in the U.S.," said Dave Pickens, executive vice president of operations for Olive Garden. "That projected growth makes Duluth a perfect location for the newest member of Olive Garden's family of local restaurants."
The inspiration for the Tuscan Farmhouse-design is Olive Garden's Riserva di Fizzano restaurant in Tuscany, Italy. Olive Garden design teams traveled to Italy regularly to work with Italian architects Fabio and Lucia Zingarelli to create a restaurant that authentically recreated the warmth and simple beauty of a farmhouse in Tuscany.
The Olive Garden in Duluth has a rustic stone exterior, typical of the buildings in the Italian countryside, and an interior accented by Italian imports designed to make the dining experience a tribute to the restaurant's Italian inspiration. Soaring vaulted ceilings supported by exposed wood beams, stone and wood accents throughout, and terra cotta tile highlight the interior.
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The bar top is crafted from lava stone, then hand-painted by artisans in Italy with a design created exclusively for Olive Garden; vibrant imported fabrics decorate windows and dining seats; hand-painted plates, designed by Lucia herself, adorn rustic stone and stucco walls; the lighting fixtures and even the window shapes are all distinctly Italian.
"At the Duluth Olive Garden, there is an atmosphere of Italian hospitality," said Chris Scheck, general manager. "We delight our guests with a genuine Italian dining experience through fresh, flavorful food, paired with a great glass of wine."
To recognize Scheck's role as head of the Olive Garden family in Duluth and to emphasize the importance the company places on its general managers, Olive Garden honored Scheck by setting his name in stone. Travertine marble imported from Tuscany was chiseled with Scheck's name and placed prominently by the front door.
Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with 527 restaurants, more than 60,000 employees and $2 billion in annual sales. Olive Garden is a division of Darden Restaurants Inc., the world's s largest casual dining company.
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Duluth Olive Garden at a glance:
Opening Date: Monday
Employees: Approximately 160
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Square Footage: 6,895 square feet
Number of Seats: 183
Hours of Operation: From Monday through Sunday, Nov. 16, the restaurant will serve dinner onl Sunday through Thursday: 4 p.m. - 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 4 p.m. - 11 p.m. The restaurant will be open for lunch beginning Monday, Nov. 17. Lunch will be served starting at 11 a.m. every day.
