Uptown Westerville is trading square slices for stuffed pockets. Fat Arnie's Provecho, the family-run sandwich and empanada outfit that first won fans out of a Clintonville bar kitchen, is stepping into the 20 S. State St. storefront, last home to DiCarlo's Pizza. The crew plans to lean hard on empanadas, stacked sandwiches, and a broadened menu while running primarily as a takeout and delivery operation. Renovations are already underway, with an opening targeted for mid to late July.
New tenant confirmed
The handoff was announced on social media and in coverage from The Columbus Dispatch. The Dispatch reports the new storefront will fly the banner Fat Arnie's Provecho and officially take over the 20 S. State St. address that previously listed DiCarlo's as the tenant.
From Rafters to State Street
Fat Arnie's started life as a walk-up window inside Rafters Beer Pub in Clintonville, gradually building a loyal following for empanadas and a rotating cast of sandwiches. The operation now lists its Clintonville home base at 4404 Indianola Ave. on its website, which also shows the family-run setup that staff and neighbors have praised. Menus and hours are posted at Fat Arnie's.
DiCarlo's Uptown history
DiCarlo's is an Ohio Valley pizza brand with locations in Ohio, West Virginia, and Tennessee, according to its locations page. The Westerville shop debuted in 2022, then reopened under family management in 2024. By June, it was listed as permanently closed, per updates from Uptown Westerville Inc. The State Street address has seen several tenants cycle through as Uptown's dining scene keeps shifting.
When to expect doors to open
Owner Andrew Beardman told The Columbus Dispatch the team is aiming for a mid to late July opening. According to the Dispatch, the menu will center on empanadas and sandwiches, with a few non-Latin options in the mix, and the business will initially emphasize takeout and delivery over dine-in service. The owners plan to share soft opening details and hours on their own channels once the buildout wraps.
What Uptown stands to gain
Fat Arnie's arrives as a neighborhood-minded, family-operated kitchen that has already earned praise in Clintonville and could give Uptown Westerville another quick, casual option. Local reviews and profiles have singled out its empanadas and sandwiches, hinting that the concept could become a fast favorite on State Street. For more background on the Clintonville operation, see the profile in Columbus Navigator. We will update this post once the owners announce firm hours and a soft opening date.
