Tacoma’s Old Spaghetti Factory cuts ceremonial ribbon on Friday

The antique lamps are lit, bottles of spirits sparkle on the back bar and the Tacoma trolley car has been fitted with tables and chairs.

The second incarnation of the Old Spaghetti Factory is ready to welcome visitors.

City officials will join with restaurant staff Friday (Jan. 22) at 4 p.m. to cut a ceremonial ribbon and open the new restaurant at 1250 Pacific Ave.

Tthe restaurant, which was located at 1735 Jefferson Ave. since 1971, is moving to accommodate expansion at the University of Washington Tacoma. The new space is the former home of City Grocery on the ground floor of Pacific Plaza.

The new location can seat 384 guests — nearly 100 more people than could be served at the former address.

“Our goal was to stay in Tacoma,” said Ryan Durrett, director of marketing for the Factory chain.

Along with adding items to the menu, the restaurant will feature broad windows with a view of Mount Rainier facing Pacific Avenue. Two banquet rooms, one more than before, will serve groups of customers and an elevator will run from the upstairs parking garage to the building foyer.

This story was originally published January 21, 2016 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Tacoma’s Old Spaghetti Factory cuts ceremonial ribbon on Friday."