Ciao Centro, Hello Harper's

The sign may still read "Centro Ristorante & Bar," but inside, little remains of the former Italian restaurant.

"Different, right?" said restaurateur Joseph Sandolo, on a walk through the Post Road property. "Beautiful, right?"

The walls, once bright blue and yellow, now wear a lick of rich crimson; tiles give way to dark wood floors, and the split-level dining room is a thing of the past. Soon too will the outdoor signage change, said Sandolo, as Harper's, an American bistro and bar, is on track to open for business in late April.

"That's the plan," said Sandolo, "But you know—I know—some things take longer than anticipated."

And Sandolo would know. The restaurateur owns four restaurants in Stamford and Greenwich: John the Baker, Luigi's, MacKenzies and Bella Nonna. Harper's, said Sandolo, with its predominantly American menu, will be a welcome addition to his portfolio of mostly Italian eateries.

"Most of my places are Italian. This will be American food: steaks, salads, fresh fish; and a very relaxed atmosphere," said Sandolo "We're just focusing on a high quality, affordable menu."

The property at 319 Post Road was built by Sandolo's father, Robert, in the 1970s, and operated as Harper's Restaurant in the 1980s under different tenants. When Centro's lease ended last fall, Sandolo said he decided to open his own restaurant at the property. Centro closed, and Harper's, circa 2010, will soon take its place.

Renovations to the inside of the building are well underway. Most of what was Centro's has been gutted, and utilities have been replaced. Still, the building itself has not been touched.

"In a restaurant-to-restaurant case like this, the application does not need to come before the commission," said Planning & Zoning Director Jeremy Ginsberg, noting that turn around for such permits is "not very long."

Applications for a tenant fit-up and building permit for necessary electrical and plumbing work have been approved by P&Z. And where initial requests for outdoor seating and dining were turned down, Sandolo said he'll "give it a little while and try again" for P&Z's blessing, once the business is up and running.

The large, mirrored bar of Centro's still remains, and Sandolo said he plans only to enhance that area of the restaurant with a darker wood finish and a customized, backlit 'Harper's' sign.

"It will be nice, you know, for a relaxed crowd. Somewhere to hang out," said Sandolo. "We're actually going to have a large wine list, and fantastic margaritas and martinis."

As for the name, an old, English surname originally belonging to a person who played the harp in royal halls, Sandolo said it speaks to the tradition of entertaining that he hopes his new restaurant will bring to Darien's Post Road strip.

"I'm really excited," said Sandolo. "You're gonna love it."