In all the times we have gone to the Goodyear Tires in downtown Covington, we’ve never noticed its neighbors. It’s actually a very large building with other spaces which just sat there year after year until two guys opened up the cleverly-named Autonomy earlier this year. Or was it late last year? Either way, after minimal renovations to the space and a few months in business, Autonomy closed. Such a pity. These were excellent bakers and nice guys, but the bakery rarely had anything in the cases to buy. But they did have big dreams. The space is large, with a significant part under roof that is a garage. Autonomy’s owners envisioned Saints game parties and family events, with games and a barbecue pit. Instead, the space has been empty most of the year, as the agents for the out-of-town owner interviewed interested parties. The owner inherited the building and is never in town, just collecting the rent from afar.
And finally, there is a new tenant. A good one. The Salazzos of Del Porto will add another restaurant to their portfolio of one incredible restaurant. This new one will be a gastropub. Papers were signed yesterday, and renovations will begin soon. Plans are not fully formed but they are shooting for a May opening. Heating and air-conditioning are going into the garage before anything begins.
This is a very exciting development for the little downtown with the world-class dining scene. Not my words - Covington actually made a list a few months ago of the top ten little towns in the United States with world-class dining. The only thing better than having Del Porto here is having an additional but different restaurant here by the same people who brought us Del Porto.