By Carol Coultas,Business Writer

LEWISTON – Like its fettucine Alfredo, or a basket of its renowned garlic knots, the new home for DaVinci’s Eatery will be “very enticing.”

That’s how owner Jules Patry envisions the next incarnation of his Italian restaurant, an anchor at the Bates Mill since 1996. The restaurant is slated to move around the corner, into renovated mill space along Chestnut and Mill streets by early next year.

“We’re very excited,” said Patry. “It will be wonderful.”

Crews from Platz Associates, which owns the space, are renovating Storehouse No. 2 and Wing No. 2 to accommodate DaVinci’s and other future tenants. According to Norm Caron, field supervisor for Platz, workers are shoring up the structural elements and then will do some engineering work before rehabbing the 58,000-square-foot space that was once a spinning room for Bates textiles and a loading dock.

“I’m guessing it will take us five or six months to do what we need to do in order to start the fit-up,” said Caron.

Patry is planning to lease between 8,000 and 10,000 square feet on the ground floor for the restaurant’s new home. Plans show seating for about 250 diners – about what he accommodates now in his space within Mill No. 1. But the lounge is greatly expanded, there’s al fresco dining planned for the courtyard, which opens onto Fountain Park, potential banquet space and Patry is considering a quick-serve/retail operation for one corner.

“With all the people working in the area, well, not everybody wants a full-service, $10 lunch,” said Patry.

Blueprints show the archway that faces Chestnut Street enclosed in glass on both sides, creating an interior corridor where Patry plans to locate his cook line. People walking along Chestnut Street will be able to see the chefs at work and smell the aromas of the dishes they create, hence Patry’s “enticing” description.

Diners will also be able to get to the new eatery with ease. The main entrance will be directly across from the new parking deck built last year for Bates Mill tenants. Patry said there will be parking for 90 – double what he has now.

And the rows of windows depicted in the architects drawing’s mean his new space will be flooded with sunlight.

“You wouldn’t believe how bright it is,” he said. “With all that glass, our new decor will put the old one to sleep.”

Patry declined to reveal how much of an investment the move represents, but offered a clue by saying “whew” and raising his eyebrows when asked. The relocation was prompted a few years ago when Platz management wanted to relocate tenants from mills Nos. 1 and 2 so the empty buildings could be redeveloped. Negotiations for a new lease are under way, said Patry.

The timing now couldn’t be better. Patry said the spate of new restaurants opening in the area has affected his business somewhat, but DaVinci’s is still busy and he expects it will remain so. Otherwise, he wouldn’t consider the investment.

“Our philosophy has always been, if you do a good job, people will appreciate it and will come back,” he said.