New O’Charley’s opens in Boardman

BOARDMAN — Sam Covelli opens an O’Charley’s restaurant in Boardman today with a location that is roomier and has more seats than his first location in Niles.

Covelli, president of Covelli Enterprises of Warren, led a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday for the new restaurant at South Avenue and Windham Court.

O’Charley’s offers sit-down service with a menu that includes chicken, steak, seafood and pasta. Entrees range from grilled chicken for $10.99 to filet mignon for $18.49.

Covelli, who also is a Panera Bread franchisee, opened his first O’Charley’s in Niles in 2006. The Boardman restaurant has 260 seats, 30 more than Niles. It also has a larger kitchen and more room between tables.

Covelli recently opened an O’Charley’s in Erie, Pa., and is continuing the expansion.

He said he just bought a site near the Chapel Hill Mall in Akron and will start construction soon. He also is about to begin construction of an O’Charley’s near Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and is negotiating on a second site in that area.

He added that he also is looking at sites in the Pittsburgh area.

He didn’t want to estimate the number of O’Charley’s that he might build.

The chain is based in Tennessee and has about 300 restaurants around the country.

Covelli also operates about 150 Panera locations in several states.