A set of mini arches outside the property at 2256 E. Olive Road in the Ferry Pass area of Pensacola were painted red and green and "La Trattoria" signage was added to the building in the summer of 2018 as an Italian restaurant appeared seemingly close to opening to the public.

But then, the former Casa Ole Mexican restaurant building sat dormant for close to nine months. Building owner Fernando Chavez, who owned Casa Ole and also owns Rio Bravo at Cordova Mall, as well as other Mexican restaurants in Louisiana and Mississippi, had to endure an unexpected managerial change when the person formerly tapped to lead La Trattoria ran into legal trouble last year, according to the new minority owner.