Last Monday marked the opening of the site at 4015 Far Hills Ave. after receiving final approval from Kettering June 25, Clark said.
“The community really supported us in Dayton, especially during the pandemic,” Clark said in an email. “Their support put us in a position to open a second location.”
Its regular hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., but may differ, according to its website.
Gionino’s is in the Castle Hills Shopping Center across from the Town & Country Shopping Center. The new Kettering carryout and delivery restaurant will employ about 20 people.
It opened its first Miami Valley restaurant on East Third Street in Dayton’s Huffman Historic Area in 2019. The chain has about 50 locations in Ohio, most of them in the northern and northeast parts of the state.
Currently, Gionino’s is looking at locations in Beavercreek, Huber Heights and Moraine, he said. Officials are hoping to announce expansion plans in the next few months.
“We are excited to get out there and grow the Gionino’s brand,” Clark said. “We are especially excited to introduce Kettering to our Italiano fried chicken.”
The chicken fried in peanut oil is among the reasons Clark said the franchise is looking to expand in the Dayton market.
The community response since the Dayton location opened – even through the COVID-19 pandemic – and the right leadership “are the two biggest reasons” for seeking to expand in the market, Clark said.
“The support just keeps growing,” he said. “Almost every few weeks or so we break our previous sales record.”
