Wake Forest Innovation Quarter and Wexford Science & Technology announced today the addition of Cugino Forno, a family-owned Neapolitan pizzeria and Italian eatery, as the newest tenant in Bailey Power Plant.
Cugino Forno will occupy 5,800 square feet on the first floor of Bailey Power Plant and will feature family-style seating for 150 to 200 people, including outside seating in the former coal pit. The new restaurant will employ approximately 16 full- and part-time employees and is expected to open around the beginning of October.
“The Innovation Quarter has grown into a dynamic community of people working, living and recreating here, which has created a huge demand for places to eat,” said Graydon Pleasants, head of real estate development for the Innovation Quarter. “Cugino Forno brings a new option for lunch, dinner and weekend visitors in what is increasingly becoming a high traffic area of downtown.”
Named by TripAdvisor and the Triad Business Journal as one of the most popular pizzerias in the Triad, Cugino Forno brings its brand of Neapolitan pizza to Winston-Salem after the successful launch of its first location at Revolution Mill in Greensboro, which opened in early 2017.
Cugino Forno will occupy 5,800 sq. ft. on the first floor of Bailey Power Plant
Cugino Forno pizza follows the traditional Neapolitan style, featuring fresh ingredients – 85 percent imported from Italy – and thin crust cooked in a 1,000-degree sandstone wood-fire oven hand-made in Naples. The menu features 10 signature 16-inch pizzas, enough to feed several people, however the restaurant will offer 10-inch personal pizzas on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to feed the Innovation Quarter’s growing lunch crowd.
“Our passion is to bring Italian tradition together with American heritage, which makes Bailey Power Plant and the Innovation Quarter perfect for our next location,” said co-owner Yilmaz Guver. “We are excited for Cugino Forno be a part of the growing community here.”
The menu will also feature dessert options, including gelato imported from Italy and handmade cannolis. Italian beer, wine and espresso will also be offered, and the owners plan to collaborate with next-door neighbor Incendiary Brewing to offer a line of hyper-local beer to their drink menu.
Cugino Forno is owned by cousins Yilmaz Guver, Joseph Ozbey and Adam Adksoy. Cugino is “cousin” in Italian – while Forno means “oven.”
Cugino Forno is owned by cousins Yilmaz Guver, Joseph Ozbey and Adam Adksoy. Cugino is “cousin” in Italian – while Forno means “oven.” The restaurant is the third retail tenant announced for Bailey Power Plant, which opened in February of this year. Other retail tenants Alma Mexicana, a restaurant which opened in January and Incendiary Brewing, which is slated to open around Labor Day.
“Bailey Power Plant is quickly becoming what we set out to create, which is a new center of vibrancy in the Innovation Quarter,” said Will Partin, senior director of development for Wexford Science & Technology, which redeveloped the building. “The combination of Cugino Forno, Incendiary Brewing, and Alma Mexicana are a great start towards making the Power Plant a true 16-hour-per-day destination for the community.”
Cugino Forno pizza follows the traditional Neapolitan style, featuring fresh authentic ingredients and thin crust
Bailey Power Plant, which opened in February, features approximately 110,800 square feet space suitable for offices, entertainment, retail and meeting space. 9,000 square feet of commercial space is still available on the first floor, with 15,000 square feet of office space available on the third floor.
