Portofino Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria has become somewhat of a local institution since opening nearly 20 years ago in Gastonia. With its reputation firmly solidified within the Franklin Square shopping center, two chefs from the business are now ready to expand with a second venue in a pocket of the city that they believe desperately needs it.

“On the weekends, we always have overflow in Portofino,” said Tony Coppola, the general manager of the restaurant. “And a lot of the people are coming from the (U.S.) 321 South area and are really asking us to do something there.” The answer to those prayers will be Reginella Italian Pizzeria & Grill, opening this summer at 1808 S. York Road. It will be set up in a building that housed a Kentucky Fried Chicken many years ago, and was more recently home to an Asian food restaurant known as Thai Khao San.