2 new businesses — bakery, Italian eatery — open in downtown Jeannette

The scent of hard work at two new businesses in Jeannette wafts out the front doors, rising from baked goods and Italian fare.

Jennifer Toughlian and David Avolio spent months preparing to open their doors and said this week they were thrilled with the response they’ve received from the community.

Sforno, 217 S. Fourth St.

Lucky family members and friends have been taste-testing Avolio’s recipes to help the Jeannette native perfect a menu with specialty and traditional pizzas, salads, flatbreads, hoagies and dessert. Each item comes with a quirky name — Lucille Balls for a meatball hoagie and Mariah Cherry for a pizza topped with cherry tomatoes.

Avolio said he took some inspiration from the names of 1980s Garbage Pail Kids, which were meant to be a parody of the popular Cabbage Patch Kids dolls.

“I just started reading some of the names and thought ‘Oh my God, these are just hilarious,’ ” he said.

The restaurant, his first, opened July 19 after about two and a half years of preparation. He had worked at the family business across the street, Avolio Food Distributors, until it was sold. That experience plus family recipes helped Avolio craft menu items from quality ingredients.

“I already had insight into the best products,” he said.

The Italian word sforno translates into bake or take out of the oven in English.

There were 11 jobs created and his nephew, Nico Avolio, is serving as manager. Visitors are allowed to bring their own alcohol. The hours currently are 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. In September, the hours will extend to 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Avolio said he hopes Jeannette can continue on the upswing with new businesses taking up old spaces around town.

“I was across the street for 25 years and this is probably the most activity I’ve seen in the downtown district … in years,” he said.

Peinetti’s, 512 Clay Ave.

Jennifer Toughlian has been hawking her baked goods at farmers markets around the area for about nine years. All of that work has been leading up to the grand opening of her bakery on Saturday. The bakery will be open 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday following a soft opening earlier in the week.

“This just kind of manifested itself into what it is today,” she said.

Toughlian and her husband Dean Toughlian of Penn Township have been working for months in preparation to welcome customers into the nearly 100-year-old building which has housed a computer repair shop and pharmacy over the years.

She previously worked in a small production space in White Oak and out of her home, so the added space is “spectacular,” Toughlian said. For now, she’s still planning to sell baked goods at markets.

Peinetti was her grandmother’s maiden name. The couple hopes that their children will eventually take over the business.

“It’s been a lot of work,” Dean Toughlian said.

“But worth it, completely worth it because I love it,” Jennifer Toughlian said.

There are a few tables for customers to sit down and enjoy their baked goods and a coffee drink. The tables are plastered with old family photos. Regular items will include cinnamon rolls, scones and cookies. Special orders can be made.

The bakery will be open 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

RENATTA SIGNORINI | TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Scones are one of the items that will be available regularly at Peinetti’s in Jeannette.