College Hill restaurant to move, but where?

Not quite a decade after opening his Albero Cafe in the former Bocconcini Italian Eatery space on Central just east of Oliver, Hassan Ballout is moving the restaurant.

“I want to stay in College Hill,” he said. “We’re negotiating a couple spots. We have one that we’re really interested in.”

That one also is on Central.

It’s not Ballout’s choice to move. His landlord has other plans for the area — undisclosed plans at this point.

“I’m not a fan of moving,” Ballout said.

However, he said the idea of new space is kind of appealing, too. He said it’s a difficult time to move, though.

“Rates are high, and construction is very expensive. It’s not what it used to be three or four years ago. . . . You have to adjust your budget.”

Ballout said he’s constantly adjusting. He said his newer Albero Bistro at Greenwich Place is doing fine but has been hit by some big-box closures in the area.

“We’re surviving the storm so far.”

Add to that inflation and a labor shortage, and it’s quite the challenge.

“The writing was on the wall 20 years ago,” Ballout said. “It didn’t start with COVID.”

He said he’s adjusting prices and plans new menus soon as well.

Ballout expects to be in his Central and Oliver space a few more months at least.

And it will be at least that long before there’s news about new plans for the area.

Look for more on Albero Cafe’s new home soon followed by the full story of what’s happening at Central and Oliver this fall.