PLATTEVILLE — On May 31, developer Jim Schneller Jr. convinced the Platteville Common Council to renew the Class B liquor license formerly held by The Timbers restaurant.

The payoff for that decision will come in mid-May, when Benvenuto’s Italian Grill is scheduled to open on Progressive Parkway off East Business 151.

The groundbreaking for the restaurant will be Monday at 10 a.m.

The ownership group includes the restaurant’s managers, Alan and Julie Klein. Julie Klein formerly managed the Governor Dodge Hotel & Convention Center in Platteville.

“When we first were approached about doing this, we said no, because we were in the restaurant business,” she said. “It is Italian, but there’s so much more as far as far as steak and seafood, and never being frozen.”

Benvenuto’s owns restaurants in Madison, Fitchburg, Beaver Dam and Oshkosh. The Platteville Benvenuto’s is the second of three franchised Benvenuto’s; the others are in Middleton and, also under construction, Zion, Ill.

The restaurant will employ 25 to 35. The building will have capacity for 120, including 50 in a private room. The bar will seat 30.

The restaurant will be open daily for lunch and dinner. The menu includes pizza, various pastas, steaks, prime rib, pork chops, fresh seafood, and desserts. The building design will include a kitchen visible from the dining room.

“We have great pastas, great salads,” said Klein. “The part I think everyone will be really surprised with is the seafood — the only part that’s frozen is the Friday night fish fry.”

Benvenuto’s will contribute to the community through nights in which a certain percentage of sales is donated to a charity.