PITTSTON — The latest business to open in the city’s ever-growing downtown area is The Refinery restaurant at the Waterfront Warehouse, 350 Kennedy Blvd.
The restaurant, owned by Chad and Kristen Gelso, Kevin and Natalie Kearney, and Jamie Granko, has been in the making for quite some time while Hadley Construction gutted, built and put the finishing touches to the facility.
Chad and Kristen bring their expertise as chef and pastry chef, respectively, while the Kearneys and Granko, principals of The Banks Waterfront Venue, add their knowledge in planning and hosting special events.
The interior of The Refinery has an earthy vibe using brown tones throughout. The dining room structure has a blend of brick, stone and exposed wood beams. The brick flooring pattern is unique throughout, the kitchen is ultra modern and the bar is natural wood. The interior design has the personal touch of Natalie Kearney, who is the owner of Petals Floral & Gift Boutique, Pittston.
Chad has worked at such prestigious restaurants like Fabio Traboochi, Washington, D.C., Suraya Restaurant at Fishtown, Philadelphia, and Buddakan, Philadelphia, and nearly four years with locally owned Friedman Hospitality at Vine+Bank, Wilkes-Barre.
Kristen studied at The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College before working as a pastry chef at Fork Restaurant, Philadelphia, and Bank+Vine, Wilkes-Barre, before starting up The Refinery.
While in Philadelphia, Chad, of Dallas, met then Kristen Fereck of Jenkins Twp., not knowing both were from the Wyoming Valley. The pandemic sent the two back to Wyoming Valley where they both ultimately worked at Bank+Vine, Wilkes-Barre, eventually the two fell in love.
The future husband and wife met up with the Kearneys when they planned to have their wedding at The Banks, and over time, the four started to formulate the idea of opening a restaurant in Pittston.
“Pat Hadley (co-developer/landlord of the Waterfront Warehouse) said he had a space here in the building and wanted to outfit it for a restaurant,” Kevin Kearney said. “I think we were crazy for even thinking of opening a restaurant, but here we are.”
Once the partnership was created, it was time for Hadley Construction to transform the space suited for a restaurant.
After several months of remodeling and a few delays, the restaurant was finally completed.
“Hadley did the build out and he did an amazing job,” Chad said. “As far as the décor, it was all Kevin and Natalie.”
“Hadley framed it out and my wife did the finishing pieces,” Kevin added. “She has a weird talent, and I don’t know where she gets it from, but she’ll spend the time with the chairs and tables and the chandeliers and all the little pieces to make it look like it does today.”
Chad and Kristen both agree that the location is perfect with both of their families with Pittston roots.
After the two were married a month ago, they settled in Pittston, not far from the restaurant.
The Refinery is a farm-to-table cuisine where the Gelsos are able to take a recipe and put their own twist on many dishes from older Italian cookbooks.
Kristen puts much time and effort into her pastries and specializes in homemade gelatos.
Chad said he insists on getting as many ingredients as he can from local farmers, even getting tomatoes and herbs from Frank Colella’s rooftop garden at the Waterfront Warehouse.
Kevin feels they have assembled the best service team, which became family before the doors even opened.
“I want to shout out to our key people (staff) like Liz-O, Betty Jo, Jess and John Seger at the bar,” Chad said. “The four of them leading this team under Kevin in the front — what a power team, we are so lucky.”
The owners at The Refinery all agree they wanted the restaurant to have a cool vibe with a very relaxed casual dress code giving the facility a home-like atmosphere.
The menu consists of cold snacks and small plates, salads, and hot snacks and small plates as well as in-house handmade 9” pizzas, fresh pastas, main entrees and sides. The bar has an extensive array of wines from all regions of Italy.
The Refinery has an over 90-seat capacity that includes 12 at the bar, 35 to 40 indoor seats, 30 seats outdoors and up to 20 seats in their private room.
“We want to create a great guest experience that people would want to come back to week after week, year after year,” Chad said. “The ultimate goal is to be a part of what (Pittston City) Mayor Lombardo is trying to achieve here in Pittston.”
Mayor Michael Lombardo mandated a 100-house initiative several years ago to create housing for 100 families in the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods.
The Waterfront Warehouse, one of the largest square foot buildings in Pittston, started off as the Pittston Apparel clothing manufacturing company, fits perfectly into Lombardo’s housing plan.
Hadley Construction purchased the building and slowly began to refurbish the structure into living spaces with businesses. Today there are over 25 apartments fully occupied in the building as well as several businesses.
“From the city perspective, we’re extremely excited,” Mayor Lombardo said, on The Refinery moving in. “I think it gives us another top-shelf restaurant that I think compliments what we already have downtown, and we are very appreciative of Chad and Kristen and the rest of the crew’s investment downtown, and the place just looks spectacular. We are very excited to get it on the books and up and open.”
The Refinery will be open 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday; and soon Sunday Brunch will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For information and updates, follow The Refinery on Facebook, visit www.therefineryat350.com or call 570-299-5032.
The post Casual yet refined: The Refinery Restaurant Opens in downtown Pittston appeared first on Times Leader.