Stromboli during the spin cycle

The Bar of Soap takes diversification seriously: It's a laundromat, a bookstore, a beer bar and, now, an Italian restaurant. “Don't put all your eggs in one basket,” says Sean McNeal, who owns Bar of Soap.

Last week, Del Vecchios, an Italian comfort-food restaurant, opened in the Merrimon Avenue business, offering dine-in, take-out and delivery. Despite its unconventional quarters, the restaurant's menu offers a wide variety of dishes, including appetizers, salads, paninis on house-made bread, pasta, pizza, calzone and stromboli.

Del Vecchios has three sister restaurants in Norfolk, Va. Rob Clark, who operates the Bar of Soap location, sold those branches to move his family to Asheville.

Accordingly, his focus is family friendly. “Most places you can get a good pizza for the kids, and not so much a good salad for mom, a good dinner for dad,” he says. “It's fast food, but it's quality.”

To see the Del Vecchios menu, visit the Bar of Soap on Facebook. For take-out or delivery, call 258-7222. Bar of Soap and Del Vecchios are located at 333 Merrimon Ave.

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