Steve and Jamie Komorek, who have operated Trattoria Marcella on Watson Road and Pernod Avenue since 1995, today announced that they will open a second restaurant at the beginning of summer in the Ballwin Grove development at Clayton Road and Henry Avenue in Ballwin. That development already includes the coffeehouse Six North Cafe.

The text of the announcement follows.

Steve and Jamie Komorek, owners of the renowned Trattoria Marcella, recently announced their plan for a second restaurant. The restaurant's name has yet to be revealed, but it too will honor the Komoreks' mother, Marcella. Construction is underway on the property, which is located on Clayton Road just west of 141. The Komoreks anticipate a late-May to mid-June opening in the new Ballwin Grove development.

"For years, our guests have asked us to open a place in West County," explained Jamie Komorek. "The idea is to bring our style of Italian cooking closer to where many of our customers live."

In the St. Louis region, the name Trattoria Marcella is synonymous with high quality, delicious, authentic Italian food. The original location on Watson Road in South St. Louis City receives frequent critical acclaim and enjoys a large, loyal following.

"Our reputation is built on our dedication to sourcing only the best, freshest ingredients," said Komorek. "That's how we have run Trattoria Marcella for the past 17 years, and that's how we will run our new restaurant."

Part of Trattoria Marcella's stellar reputation comes from its impeccable wine list. Komorek, who is passionate about discovering new wines and sharing his knowledge with others, looks forward to placing a strong emphasis on wine at the new location.

"The bar will be a central focus of the restaurant," he said. "We will serve personally selected, small-production wines from vineyards that offer value and integrity. We can't wait to welcome our friends to this new restaurant, to share delicious wine and food."