The former Osteria Cicchetti in Monkey Junction is now open as a new concept called Junction 421, an American bar and grill at 5104 S. College Road.

"The location has great potential," said Lyn Rader, general manager of
Circa Restaurant Group, in an email before the restaurant's opening. "We feel strongly that Junction 421 will be successful."

The Monkey Junction Osteria Cicchetti, owned by Circa Restaurant Group owner Ash Aziz, closed before Hurricane Florence with the expectation that it would soon have new owners, but Rader said the purchase fell through.

"The tentative closing date was the week of Hurricane Florence," Rader said. "This most certainly had an impact on the sale."

But the restaurant did not suffer any damage in the storm.

"We feel very lucky that our restaurants suffered minimal damage due to Hurricane Florence," Rader said. "We cannot thank our guests enough for their support in the aftermath of the storm. It actually created a surge in business that was uncharacteristic for this time of the year."

Junction 421's menu includes appetizers such as crab dip, warm pretzels with American beer cheese and bacon bits and fried pimento cheese in Tabasco syrup. Entrees include fish and chips, shrimp and grits, butcher steak and french fries and short rib mac and cheese. 

The restaurant also serves a variety of burgers and sandwiches, including a vegan burger. The blue plate special for Wednesday, according to a draft menu, is braised short ribs with cheesy grits.

The restaurant's hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, according to its Facebook page.