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Gambescia is close to a deal with the Town of New Castle to open a restaurant in a building at the Chappaqua Metro-North Railroad station.
In July, the Town Board approved a $122,600 bid from Queens-based Meli Contracting Co. Inc to enhance the 111-year old building's foundation. Work is expected to be completed by the fall.
Gambescia made a presentation to the Town Board in February and the town expressed interest in having Via Vanti open its second location, Via Vanti Piccolo there.
Piccolo means small in Italian, and Via Vanti will be serving small plates with a mozzarella bar.
"We are very encouraged and really excited about the prospect of bringing a Via Vanti cousin to Chappaqua," Gambescia said. "It is going to be appealing to the community. I think people want to taste more and eat less."
Gambescia, a Chappaqua resident, noted there is not a mozzarella bar in the area, and said the menu will offer different items, including gelato.
Via Vanti Piccolo will have a similar decor and ambiance to its Mount Kisco cousin and the original ticket booth and benches will remain.
"It will have its own personality and be beautifully restored," Gambescia said. "It gives the space a lot of symmetry and integrity.
The goal of Via Vanti when it opened in September 2008 was to give customers a fresh take on Italian food.
"It's lighter and healthier with fusion elements," Gambescia said. "It's not this Southern Italian mamma mia cusine with heavy sauce and cheese. You can taste the recipe and see the ingredients."
Gambescia said Via Vanti is for people who want something fresh and original.
"Via Vanti is its own mood," Gambescia said. "I love that."
Before opening Via Vanti, Gambescia had 20 years of experience as an independent consultant to the food and beverage industry, but she became frustrated.
"I just wanted to do something," Gambescia said. "I wanted to walk the walk instead of talking the talk. I wanted to do something business."
Gambescia said the restaurant business is very intense with a lot of moving parts, but she considers it a creative challenge.
"I do yoga everyday," Gambescia said. "But I became comfortable and confident with what we accomplished in Mount Kisco. I needed to do this for Chappaqua. The town needs this space."
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