LAPLACE — Sicily’s Italian Buffet Corporate Headquarters announced the ground breaking of their newly re-located and re-modeled family restaurant at 214 Belle Terre Boulevard in LaPlace next to the post office.

The Sicily’s chain currently operates 12 restaurants throughout Louisiana and Mississippi, offering a wide variety of traditional and award winning gourmet pizzas, pastas and traditional Italian entrees served in a buffet style family setting.

&#8220Along with the management and staff of Sicily’s, I am pleased and excited about our company’s dedication to the LaPlace area for over 27 years. Our company is locally owned and operated and the Sicily’s in LaPlace is the home of one of our original restaurants. We are honored to be a part of the local community’s history and growth and look forward to our grand opening in early 2007,” commented Eric North, Chairman.

Both North and Randy Delatte, Director of Operations, worked at the LaPlace Sicily’s and were promoted up through the ranks with North ultimately purchasing the business. They are local to the LaPlace area and have been involved in numerous community activities including coaching youth sports teams and church and school sponsorships.

After being located in LaPlace for over 27 years, Sicily’s management decided it was the right time to expand the restaurant and change its location to better accommodate their local guests.

The new and improved 6,000-square foot restaurant will be located at 214 Belle Terre Boulevard in the new North Plaza Shopping Center and will feature an expanded buffet, larger game room and two party rooms to accommodate little league teams, family events and meetings.

Along with local involvement in the community, Sicily’s also sponsors local Family School Nights where proceeds from earned sales are donated back to the participating school.

Gary Hickman, his wife Alice Hickman and veteran employee Joanne Sylve have managed and hosted the School Night Program for many years.

Hickman added. &#8220Our School Nights are great opportunities for students, parents and faculty to visit together in a family atmosphere. All of these types of community programs give us the opportunity to say &#8220thanks” to our valued guests and give a little bit back to the LaPlace community. Although our location and facility will be all new, our valued guests can count on receiving the same great variety, quality and value that we’ve always strived for.”