Cocozza American Italian Expanding to East Memphis with New Location

A popular downtown Italian American restaurant is working on a second location in East Memphis .

Cocozza American Italian owners Deni and Patrick Reilly recently signed a lease at 919 S Yates Rd , in the former Buckley’s Lunch Box space, as reported by Memphis Business Journal .

Originally launched as a pop-up in 2020 at the Reillys’ other downtown restaurant, Majestic Grille , the brick-and-mortar eatery debuted in Harbor Town in 2022.

Cocozza offers a range of classic Italian dishes, from baked lasagna and chicken parmesan to cheese ravioli and tortellini. In addition to starters, salads, sides, and entrees, the restaurant provides family platters for large groups available for pickup.

“It’s designed to be a neighborhood spot,” Patrick said of the upcoming location. “Some place walkable, with lots of families nearby who can really call it their own. But also with easy access for grabbing dinner or family platters to-go for folks picking the kids up from nearby schools or heading home from work to places beyond the interstate.”

Construction for the 3,000-square-foot Yates Rd space is set to begin this summer, with the goal of opening the new Cocozza by the end of 2024.

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