The team behind Hammonton's popular Italian-fusion restaurant Scarpelli is bringing a new concept to the Downtown Main Street District, and this one is going modern Asian. The restaurant, called UMAMI, will take over 216 Bellevue Ave, the longtime home of Annata Wine Bar, which closed its doors for good in April after operating in town for almost two decades.
According to 97.3 ESPN, UMAMI is described as a new modern Asian dining experience from the same team that runs Scarpelli at 705 12th Street, a spot the outlet says has become a favorite for Italian-fusion fare that blends old-school and new-school sensibilities. No opening date has been announced yet, and the station reports that no further details, including a timeline, have been shared publicly.
There is one hint that alcohol will be on the menu once UMAMI opens its doors: the alcoholic beverage license tied to the address was transferred in August, which the station notes suggests the new spot will serve alcohol. UMAMI itself has only offered a brief teaser, saying, “We can't wait to share more with you soon.”
A Downtown Fixture Finds New Life
Annata Wine Bar opened as a tapas restaurant back in 2008 at the same 216 Bellevue Avenue address, according to the Hammonton Gazette. After its closure this spring, a sign advertising a “new dining experience coming!” was posted at the storefront, offering the first public signal that another restaurant was moving in.
Ty Wilson, executive director of Hammonton Mainstreet, told the Gazette at the time that he expected the space to keep its hospitality roots even under new ownership. “The hospitality, good food, and good times will still be present within that space,” Wilson said, per the outlet's report.
Joining an Already Crowded Dining Scene
Once it opens, UMAMI will add another option to a downtown strip that already includes Belle on Bellevue, El Nuevo Mariachi Loco, and Marcello's Trattoria, 97.3 ESPN reports. For now, Hammonton diners curious about the new concept will have to wait for the Scarpelli team to reveal more, including when the doors will actually open.
