Jigger's Pub owners plan new restaurant across the street in Export

Jigger’s Pub owners Tony and Brenda DeCesare are planning to open a new restaurant directly across the street from their business, and took a big step in that direction Tuesday with the approval of a liquor license transfer.

Export council members unanimously approved the transfer of the license by a 6-0 vote — Councilman John Nagoda was not present — from Lisa Marie Enterprises to the DeCesare’s company, APD Liquor LLC. The license will transfer from the former Frank’s Lounge, on Route 22 in Salem just east of Delmont, to APD for use in the former Master Auto Supply building on the corner of Washington and Lincoln avenues.

“The DeCesares’ plans are to open a new restaurant, very different from Jigger’s,” said their attorney Mark Kozar. “It would be a farm-to-table-type restaurant, where they’d source food from local farms.”

Brenda DeCesare said she and her husband are not “looking to compete with other restaurants, or with ourselves.”

“With the (Westmoreland Heritage Trail) here now, there is a growing market for vegetarian and vegan options,” she said. “We have a lot of people on the trail coming from all over.”

Tony DeCesare said the plan is for the dining room to be located on the first floor.

“I’m working with an architect to maybe have some outdoor seating and possibly a banquet room for events on the second floor,” he said.

Plans for the new restaurant come on the heels of Jigger’s 2016 expansion, which saw the addition of outdoor seating, a non-smoking section and a larger kitchen.

“Our kids are out of college now, and they decided they want to be in the business,” Brenda DeCesare said.

Following council’s approval for the liquor license transfer, the DeCesares will need to secure approval from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, and will need an occupancy permit from the borough’s code enforcement officer, according to solicitor Wes Long.