For Jesus Acosta, the past six months have held many changes. Acosta was a server at Calabria restaurant in downtown Kirkland when the former owner asked him if he would be interested in buying the business of over 20 years. Acosta, not wanting to see the business he loves fall by the way side, took advantage of the opportunity.

“The owner didn’t want to renew the lease and I said I would do it,” said Acosta, who worked for the restaurant for six years. “It was a good price and I know the restaurant.”

One of the biggest attractions for the business is the live music. Robin Maiers has played piano in the restaurant for 10 years and is a spokesman for the restaurant.

“People love this place,” said Maiers. “This is a family-friendly place that is very accessable.”

As a part of the agreement, Acosta had to change the restaurant’s name, so he chose Calabrisella. The former owner has another restaurant in Mill Creek named Calabria.

Carabria is a small town on the southern tip of Italy. Calabrisella means girl from Calabria. The new name is only one of the changes in store for the long-time Kirkland restaurant.

One of the major changes will come on the menu. Calabrisella will have a lighter taste with more salads, fresh in-house tomato sauce and bread.

“We will have more vegetarian dishes and more healthy dishes,” said Acosta. “They are not heavy or fatty. We’re trying to lighten it up.”

The lighter menu will also be more authentic, said Maiers.

The new ownership has also made some other minor changes that have affected the ambiance of the eating experience, such as moving the piano from the front door to more in the eating area, putting up curtains to diffuse the sunlight during sunset and a greeting station and cash register near the front door.

The restaurant may also relocate. Acosta is working with the landlord to find a different location in the Kirkland area that has less construction activity in the immediate vicinity.

“We want to maintain the size,” said Maiers. “It is nice here cause of the quiet outside dining and the free parking.”

One of the other rare elements for the restaurant is the outside dining. Since the restaurant is located at the back of the parking lot off Lake Street, the outside dining is quiet.

The fact that the restaurant is essentially behind Hectors on Lake Street in downtown Kirkland has also led to some interesting discoveries.

“We have had people come in here who have lived in Kirkland for 30 years and never knew that we were here,” said Maiers. “Sometimes people just don’t see it.”

For a place that used to be standing room only, Maiers said “I bet it’ll come back with some of the changes that Jesus is making.”