A new restaurant is up and running near the border where St. Michael blurs into Albertville. Patti J's Café has opened in the place of the former Pappy's Café, with a couple updates that new owner Sirios Svolopoulos hopes will drive local patrons to come and visit their new place.

Named after Svolopoulos' 5-year-old daughter, Patti J's has a larger seating area and a few more menu options than the space's former restaurant. The new café serves breakfast all day along with lunch and dinner.

Svolopoulos said he closed the restaurant for about two weeks after purchasing it while they remodeled, repainted and expanded the space. Then, they opened the doors of the new restaurant just over two weeks ago.  

Patrons of Pappy's Café can expect an easier time getting in when the restaurant is busy, since they added an additional 60 seats from the former restaurant's space. The additional seating area can also be used for private parties, Svolopoulos said. Once warmer weather hits, Patti J's plans to host patrons on an outdoor patio and add wine and beer to their offerings.

"We want to be a hometown, family-type place for the community to go to, different from a franchise place," Svolopoulos said. "We're not looking for people coming to Albertville for the outlet mall; we're looking for people who are already here that are looking for a good place to eat."

Some of their specialties include their sandwiches, broiled chicken and their soups, which are homemade by Svolopoulos' Greek father.

Server Breanna Morris has been working at the location the longest and has seen the restaurant transition from Pappy's Café to Patti J's.

"We have more seating now and it's been a little busier," Morris said, noting that the majority of their customers are regulars.

Besides being closed Mondays, Patty J's will be open at 6:30 a.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. weekends starting Tuesday, Jan. 4.