G.N.A Ristorante puts Penn Avenue property up for sale

G.N.A Ristorante, a popular Italian spot on Penn Avenue in West Reading, has closed its doors and placed the property for sale.

The restaurant at 421 Penn Ave. closed before July 4, noting at the time on Facebook that it would be reopening July 8 after a “brief summer break.”

That reopening never happened, and a real estate listing showing the property for sale was posted on LoopNet later in July.

The site’s owners are asking $2.5 million for the 10,569-square-foot property. It is owned by the Grande family.

The Grandes own two other Penn Avenue establishments: Nonno Alby’s Brick-oven Pizza and Midtown Sip, Savor, Social, which opened this summer at the former location of Say Cheese! Restaurant and Cheese.

The Grande family did not respond to a request for comments.

As far as the plans for the GNA property, all options are open, according to Steve Willems, realtor with NAI Keystone Commercial & Industrial LLC, which is listing the property.

The listing notes that the building is available turnkey or for adaptive re-use, and is large enough to support four separate businesses.

A concept plan shows the building divided into four areas, with G.N.A retaining the corner area and the other three being offered for lease.

“It (the property is) open to a single tenant or multiple tenants,” Willems told MediaNews Group. “If the latter, G.N.A would love to stay in a reduced area.”

G.N.A has occupied the building since 2006, according to the real estate listing. It was built in 1939 and opened as Moore’s Restaurant.

“This is a very large and prominent building on the avenue and the owners need to ‘right-size’ or entertain offers to purchase,” Willems said. “We are hopeful in retaining the quality and siting great businesses in this location.”