Josh Miranda, of Miranda Restaurant Group, has been searching for additional space for a new venue in the Old Port to expand his hospitality business for a long time.. He also owns the highly popular Blythe & Burrows, a cocktail bar at 26 Exchange Street, in the Old Port.

. He has found his new venue, although the closing has yet to take place. But, importantly the parties have agreed on a price. Josh hopes the closing will happen within a month. It’s the Vignola Cinque Terre building. Josh is renting the 10 Dana Street portion of the building and plans on buying the 34 Wharf site at the upcoming closing. All in all, its a large space, seating 120.

Josh, who grew up on Munjoy HIll, first worked as a dishwasher at the former Village Cafe – that was in the mid-80s. It was a popular family restaurant that was demolished to make way for condominiums on the east end waterfront. At the age of 16, he worked as a bar bouncer at Squire Morgan’s “Moose Alley” in the Old Port.

He hopes to open his new venue in the fall but is not ready to announce whether or not he will retain the Italian motiff.