Abbiocco to Move to Larger Scranton Space on Nov. 11
The restaurant is relocating to a new venue with 150 seats to accommodate increased demand for private event bookings.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Abbiocco is relocating from South Abington Township to a new space in Scranton on November 11. The move concludes a ten-year residency at its original site.
Why it matters
The relocation allows the restaurant to address operational constraints by significantly increasing dining capacity to host private events and expanding kitchen capabilities.
The restaurant is increasing dining capacity from 50 to 150 seats, a 200% expansion of its ability to host patrons and private events. This move follows a ten-year period of operation at the Northern Boulevard site in South Abington Township.
The players
Abbiocco
A restaurant business that is transitioning from a smaller long-term site in South Abington Township to a larger venue in Scranton.
Andrea Araujo
The owner of Abbiocco who has led the business for the past two years.
The details
By moving into the former Voodoo Brewing facility on South Washington Avenue, Abbiocco gains the footprint required to host bridal and baby showers. The expanded kitchen space will allow for a broader menu, including new cuts of meat and Spanish fusion offerings. This structural transition is designed specifically to capture revenue from the private event market that the previous 50-seat configuration could not accommodate.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: Final day of operations in the Abingtons.
November 11, 2026: Target opening date in Scranton.
Market Landscape
This move reflects a growing industry trend where independent operators prioritize expanded floor space specifically to capture high-margin private event revenue. It follows a pattern of businesses scaling into larger, underutilized footprints to accommodate shifting consumer demand for event hosting.
Operators considering similar relocations should model whether the increased overhead of a larger venue is offset by the specific revenue potential of private event capacity. This expansion demonstrates the shift toward optimizing square footage for multi-use functionality rather than standard dining flow alone.
The takeaway
Expanding dining capacity is a strategic pivot to secure higher-margin event revenue at the cost of higher operational overhead. Owners should track the utilization rate of new private event spaces against the increased utility and rent costs during the first six months of operation.
What happens next
The restaurant is scheduled to open its doors to the public in Scranton on November 11, 2026.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts in the region, visit Scranton Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Scranton Times-Tribune.
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