Sergio's Italian Restaurant at 449 Kapahulu Ave. will close after service tonight and will reopen by late January with a new name and concept.

Sergio's Italian Table at Hilton Hawaiian Village will remain open and will absorb some of its sister restaurant's approximately 30 employees, said Gary Manago, president and managing partner of parent company Restaurants Hawaii LLC.

The economic downturn is the reason for the temporary closure, he said.

However, the restaurant in the former Sam Choy's Diamond Head space will honor scheduled private banquets and will accept new reservations for private functions during the closure.

A new menu is being developed for the new eatery, and he would not divulge the new concept.

“;We hope to finalize the menu by the end of November, and then we will be changing the kitchen equipment, making sure we have everything that we need to reopen,”; Manago said.

The company would like to reopen with all of its current employees, but he is aware that many might have to find steady employment during the closure.

On the Net:
» www.sergioshonolulu.com