New-to-market Italian restaurant snaps up SouthPark space

CHARLOTTE — Leo’s Italian Social will join the lineup at Piedmont Town Center.

The Ohio-based restaurant has signed a lease for a roughly 8,200-square-foot space — formerly home to Brio. It is expected to open in the fourth quarter.

This is the first venture for Chef Art Pour Restaurant Group in Charlotte. It expects to invest north of $1 million into that venture, says Bret Adams, founder at Chef Art Pour.

“I think we’ll be a nice alternative to some of the other Italian places that are out there,” he says.

Leo’s — named for Adams’ youngest nephew — aims to be a neighborhood gathering place, dishing up chef-driven cuisine with wine and cocktails.

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