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Maia to reconceptualize its upstairs dining room

Maia, the ambitious Villanova restaurant/market/bistro/cafe, has closed its upstairs dining room. Plans are to reconceptualize it into something more affordable.

The management at Maia in Villanova has bitten the bullet and, to little surprise, has closed the upstairs dining room, which in January trimmed its operation to Thursdays through Saturdays for dinner.

Despite word that the rough-hewn space is closed as in closed, there are plans to redo it into something more affordable. The concept also was too similar to the bistro menu downstairs, which is supposedly doing well.

"While the restaurant remained busy on Friday and Saturday nights, it was not enough to maintain two separate staffs during the slower weeknights," said general manager Nicole Pizzi in response to my question. "The good news is that the upstairs restaurant will reopen in the coming months with a new name, a new chef and a new cuisine that will be dramatically different. It will have a lower and more affordable price-point and even an outdoor bar. We will continue to rent out the facility for private events and parties. Gift certificates will be honored both up and downstairs."