Toscana owner Dan Butler leaves Chancery Market, says he is planning a new Wilmington site
A new pizza vendor has taken over the stall previously operated by Toscana restaurant at downtown Wilmington's Chancery Market, Food Hall & Bar.
Toscana Pizza e Panini run by Chef Dan Butler, who owns Piccolina Toscana and Toscana-to-go in Trolley Square, has departed the food hall on the bottom floor of the former Hercules Plaza building at 1313 N. Market St.
Toscana, which sold personal Neapolitan pizzas from a custom hearth oven as well as panini and salads, had been a part of the market since its opening in December 2022.
"We moved out," Butler told Delaware Online/The News Journal on Friday. "I love the concept and I love the people there. We did it for a year, but I'm working on a new project and it will be downtown. We're devoting our attention to that."
Butler said he wasn't yet ready to share plans for his new place, but more details will be coming soon.
Taking over the spot is Al Forno, which opened on Thursday, Feb. 15. It's run by chef/owner Jhonathan Gomez, who also has been operating the market's Pokelicious stall since July 2023. Pokelicious's menu includes fresh tuna, salmon, shrimp, and chicken teriyaki, along with mix-ins and sauces, as well as seasonal fruit-infused water and homemade desserts.
Al Forno from Venezuelan-born proprietor Gomez is selling pizzas ranging from a traditional margherita for $11.99 to $14.99 for a white pie with shrimp, chives, and horseradish sauce.
The menu also includes antipasti and pasta such as carbonara, alfredo, and spinach and ricotta. Gomez also is offering a plated dinner catering menu.
Chancery Market is owned by TSG Hospitality LLC, led by Scott Johnson of Wilmington-based Johnson Commercial Real Estate. It is operated by HQ Hospitality, a Brooklyn-based culinary consulting and food hall management firm led by chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and co-founder Akhtar Nawab.
The $5 million, 12,000-square-foot market has seven food concepts and a bar. Several vendors have departed since the market's opening 14 months ago including the Fuku chicken stand, The Juice Joint and Oath '84.
Contact Patricia Talorico at ptalorico@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2861 and follow her on X (Twitter) @pattytalorico Sign up for her Delaware Eats newsletter.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Toscana leaves Wilmington's Chancery Market, Al Forno moves to its spot
