Raleigh’s Lafayette Village will receive a new steakhouse in place of Mexican spot Driftwood Cantina at 8460 Honeycutt Road this spring.
Owners Justin Bee, Nunzio Scordo, Keith LoGrande, Joe Farrell and Steven Hayes are teaming up for the new venture, which will be called Franko’s Prime.
Bee, Scordo, Farrell and Hayes own Franko’s Italian Steakhouse in Franklinton, and Franko’s Prime is an outgrowth from that brand. Franko’s Italian Steakhouse specializes in wood-fired pizza, steak and Italian dishes.
“Franko’s Italian Steakhouse is just doing so well, and we’ve been looking to possibly expand that concept,” Bee told What Now Charlotte. “What my partners and I had discussed was taking the Italian steakhouse and splitting it into different arms of business — opening steakhouses, opening Italian joints, maybe opening a pizza joint in the future.”
Bee is not new to Lafayette Village. He previously worked with some of the other owners at Italian restaurant Paparazzi. The team felt that a steakhouse would fit best in the Lafayette Village area as it would fill a gap in the market.
“Going back into Lafayette Village and bringing something to that community is exciting,” Bee said. “There’s really no solid steakhouse in that area, so I’m excited for that — to bring something that people are wanting.”
Customers can expect a classic American steakhouse, serving USDA prime steak and dry-aged offerings.
While there is a large remodel ahead prior to opening, Bee expects Franko’s Prime to open in May.
