Positalia Italian Eatery plans to open its doors to the public on Wednesday, according to Rachelle Bullard of the Bullard Restaurant Group.
 
Raleigh-based Bullard Restaurant Group, which operates a number of franchises such as Burger King and Moe’s Southwest Grill, owns the fast-casual Italian restaurant. Positalia is located at 6800 Parker Farm Drive, Suite 150 in Mayfaire Community Center.
 
The opening is being labeled a soft opening, Bullard said. A grand opening will be scheduled later.
 
“It’s been a huge learning process,” she said, “because we have been primarily franchisees, and this is our first time opening something of our own. We have put a lot of thought into it.”
 
The restaurant is currently in the process of training its new staff. The Bullards plan to have 75 family members and friends over before the opening to give the crew experience cooking and filling orders to get any potential bugs out before the public tries it.
 
Positalia is a new concept being put forward by Bullard Restaurant Group, which is headed by Bullard and her husband, Clif. The Bullards plan to turn Positalia into a franchise, and the Wilmington location will be run by Clif’s son, Kevin.
 
The Bullards hope that newcomers to the restaurant will be hooked by the cooking of head chef Nina Psarros, a native of Sicily, Italy. Psarros is moving full-time to Wilmington from her own restaurant in Raleigh to work at Positalia, which Rachelle Bullard called Psarros’ “baby.”
 
“When you try [Psarros’] marinara you’re going to say, ‘wow,’” she said. “People are going to want to bottle her homemade sauces.”