Jimmy Pardini's Strada Italian sandwich shop opens Tuesday at Park Place in Fresno. Photo illustration by Cecilia Lopez

Strada, an Italian-inspired sandwich shop from restaurateur Jimmy Pardini is preparing to open its doors in North Fresno on Tuesday, April 28, marking the second launch in the last 12 months for his growing portfolio.

Strada Italian Sandwiches, located in the expanding Park Crossing shopping center on Friant Road, will specialize in sandwiches built on freshly baked focaccia bread with Italian ingredients and house-made spreads.

The restaurant joins the shopping center anchored by Trader Joe’s and several other restaurants and retailers, and is located adjacent to another Pardini restaurant — Annesso Pizzeria, which opened in 2021.

Pardini said the shop will operate using a counter-service model designed for speed and simplicity, while maintaining the authenticity of an Italian eatery. It also has a takeout window.

The sandwiches will feature fresh bread baked on site — just one touch of a concept Pardini has longed to develop for years.

“I’ve always loved sandwiches and I’ve loved trying to find a way to elevate sandwiches,” Pardini said. “And then combine that with my travels in Italy over the years and the sort of sandwiches that they have in Tuscany. 

The restaurant will incorporate Italian-style ingredients, paying homage to the cuisine Pardini has focused on throughout his career.

He said the concept draws heavily on bakery production that is already central to his other restaurants.

“Being able to kind of combine all those elements into this restaurant,” Pardini said. “Our fresh bread, our Italian ingredients — it all came together to make what we have here as Strada.”

The restaurant will also offer beer and wine once its liquor license is finalized.

“We’ll have Italian and California wines,” Pardini said. “We’ll have a few spritz items, and some bubbly wines as well.”

Strada follows a busy stretch for the restaurateur, who recently opened Willow Osteria and already operates The Annex Kitchen and Annesso Pizzeria in Fresno.

“It’s been a busy year for us getting Willow and Strada open, almost back to back,” Pardini said. “But we’re having fun and working hard.”

Pardini said that customers have already stopped by the restaurant in anticipation of its opening.

 “We’re just gonna open the doors and hopefully feed some happy people,” Pardini said.