A Commons restaurant known for its quirky pizza names such as the “bill, (formerly known as steve)” is completing its own name transformation from a location formerly known as Puccini’s Smiling Teeth to Bucceto’s.
The former Puccini’s was closed for several days for an interior overhaul before re-opening March 30 as Bucceto’s Smiling Teeth. Bucceto’s is a familiar brand in the Bloomington, where there are two locations. The two brands are actually sister operations, but with different ownership.
The branding switch is accompanied by a change in operators. Paul Heilbrunn, who operates the two Bucceto’s in Bloomington, is now managing the Columbus restaurant.
Heilbrunn approached the Columbus Redevelopment Commission in October, seeking to take over the Puccini’s. That request was approved by the city, which owns the space.
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Restaurant workers moved the facility’s signature red booths to the center of the restaurant during the closing as a two-toned grey paint now covers the former yellow walls of the former Puccini’s. The restaurant’s artwork, abstract depictions of forks, pizzas and more, will all remain, Heilbrunn said.
The Commons space received a deep cleaning from restaurant workers during the closedown, including a complete cleaning of all the windows which face Fourth and Washington streets from floor to ceiling.
Fan favorites of Puccini’s will see that not too much will change on the menu at the downtown eatery, except the name at the top of the menu. The smiling teeth pizza combos, calzones, pasta and hold-the-meat options remain the same. Those who are fans of “zorba the pizza” and “bama jam” will still find them on the menu, along with “humble pie” and “ultimate warrior.”
Heilbrunn promises under new management that he will step up the service at the restaurant as well as fine-tune the menu execution, in addition to the interior spruce-up.
He has plans to do more community outreach to encourage sports teams to use Bucceto’s for catering, and Heilbrunn plans to reach out to dentists to provide coupons for the restaurant to be awarded for good checkups.
The new management has received a deal from the Columbus Redevelopment Commission to take over the remaining two years of Puccini’s lease at the Commons. Last October, commission members approved six months free-rent for Bucceto’s and decreased the restaurant’s lease rental payments from the $16 per square foot that Puccini’s was paying to $11 per square foot.
The difference is $42,880 per year in rental costs. The $11 rate also was offered to Luciana’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, which opened in the largest restaurant space in The Commons in September.
Bucceto’s has won the Herald-Times of Bloomington Reader’s Choice awards for Best Pizza, Best Italian, Best Lunch, Best Catering and Best Vegetarian. The restaurant also boasts that it offers more than 50 gluten-free menu items.
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To learn more about Bucceto’s Smiling Teeth, visit buccetos.com.
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