Geno's looks to bring scale and quality to Muncie's Italian fare
Corey Ohlenkamp
The Star Press
MUNCIE, Ind. — Owners of a new restaurant opening in Muncie are hoping their 180+-seat dining and proximity to Ball State University will bring in customers for up wood-fired pizza, baked pasta, oven baked sandwiches and more.
Geno's opened at 2913 W. Bethel Ave. in the last week of February after weeks of interest from the general public. Getting Geno's in Muncie, however, was a long process according to the one of the owners, Richard Case Jr.
The owners had originally looked at opening a similar styled restaurant in Noblesville, but things didn't work. Later another opportunity came up because of the building along Bethel. The size of the Bethel location doesn't intimidate Case. In fact, the having the capability to seat well over 180 people at any given time could be to their benefit.
When they saw the location, formerly a steakhouse, they thought it would be great.
"Once we got the layout and decided what we wanted to do with it, the way we designed it works," Case said.
Two different areas — the "bar" side with a 29-tap bar and the "family" side — allow Case and his team to control the crowds and the atmosphere they want in either one. From a heavy sports weekend to Ball State home football games, there is a way for them to keep families and those looking for a night out happy.
"I wanted them to feel like they were in Indianapolis or any other big city," Case said.
Three main dining areas make up the restaurant. The two inside dining areas seat about 90 people each, plus patio seating. Several private dining rooms can be rented for parties or meetings as well.
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The ability to split the dining areas also means that larger parties can close off a portion of the restaurant for a private event, while keeping the full delivery and sit-down service operational.
Geno's also has a drive through pickup window in addition to the standard pickup area for the restaurant. When you place an order, you can designate if you'll be picking up at the window or the lobby.
"We had to look at what the customers might want," Case said. He had to consider this throughout the process to really help determine what would set Geno's apart from similar restaurants in the area.
The pick-up service is something Case hopes will really pick up during Ball State tailgating for home football games. Some of the tailgating lots are just yards away and within eyesight of his restaurant.
One of the things that most people will be interested in is the menu.
"I wanted to do Italian cuisine," Case said.
Beyond a wood fire pizza oven than can cook a pie in around 4 minutes, there are barbecue chicken wings, lasagna and more. Geno's offers a wide array of the pizzas, oven-baked sandwiches, burgers, pasta and more.
Case said they taste-tested dozens of items to see what would stand out in Muncie's restaurant scene.
"That was a big thing for us in the test taste, what had a wow factor," Case said.
Case recommends the wings, which are done rotisserie style, glazed with their sauces before and after the cooking.
Geno's isn't part of a franchise, allowing for the Muncie restaurant to focus on what the owners feel is important.
Both Case and his father, Richard Case Sr., have been involved in Muncie's business sector for years through a construction company and more. This is their first venture into owning a restaurant instead of helping build them.
"This is our home," Case said.
That's why the excitement around the community about his restaurant is something Case has appreciated from Muncie. There hasn't been a grand opening yet as Case and his team work out the kinks in both the serving side and food side of things.
Geno's is open 11 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday.