Renzo Maietto has a secret he wants to share.
Photo by Rachel Pressley
Renzo’s Ristorante owner Renzo Maietto recently found a collection of old bottles of alcohol hidden in the attic of his building. “I discovered that the door to a space in the upstairs of my restaurant was the original wooden speakeasy door from the 1920s,” explains Maietto. The building already has a spicy history — it was a brothel in the ‘20s, says Maietto. But, he says the Prohibition-era speakeasy was the real money maker. He plans to resurrect the concept with SPEAKEASY, which will be located directly above Renzo’s and open at the end of April. The new space will serve authentic Italian-style appetizers and old-fashioned drinks, all purchased with a unique form of currency that diners collect at the door — casino chips. “Customers can order a meal downstairs and bring it up here to enjoy themselves in this old-school environment,” explains Maietto. The will offer live entertainment, including jazz; Great Gatsby-themed costume parties, and much more. A gathering for SPEAKEASY’s grand opening will be announced soon.
Maietto’s discovery of the old door to the original speakeasy sparked his idea.
Photo by Rimas Zailskas
A sitting area for cocktails at SPEAKEASY.
Photo by Rimas Zailskas
SPEAKEASY, (located above Renzo’s Ristorante) 502 N. Main St., Hendersonville. For more information, call 828-551-7766.
