We are embracing it and looking forward to the challenge and opportunity.”

Owner of Carbone’s Pizzeria Rich Magnuson

When the city pivoted in late 2024 to building the central water treatment plant (WTP) first, zeroing in on the lot at 1292 N. Frontage Road for the location of the future PFAS WTP, none were more affected than those currently there: Carbone’s Pizzeria and Stacey’s Stars.
The city closed on 1292 N. Frontage on Friday, April 18, finalizing the long process of environmental reviews, and site studies leading up to the purchase. Carbone’s and Stacy’s Stars were presented with a 90-day notice at the beginning of April meaning both had to vacate the building by the end of June.
The city of Hastings, in cooperation with SRF Consulting, has been assisting both businesses with finding a new location and while the new sites are  not yet finalized, both will be staying in Hastings.
Owner of Carbone’s Pizzeria Rich Magnuson called the decision “a gut punch at first,” but has since become more optimistic about the move siting cooperation with the city, local property owners, and the restaurant’s loyal customer base.
The moving process is especially difficult for a restaurant which requires specific equipment from fire suppressors to grease traps that underpin a modern kitchen. Because of that, Carbone’s has been looking to move into sites with existing kitchens in town, which limits their options.
Despite that difficulty, Magnuson said that the various owners of locations being considered have been “pretty aggressive to help us out,” continuing, “the kitchen is the most expensive part and that’s the part they are willing to take care of.”
Despite the move from its long-time home, Magnuson sees opportunity in the change. There isn’t much foot traffic along North Frontage Road, and moving to a location with more pedestrians could expand dine-in opportunities for the restaurant, according to Magnuson. A new venue could also provide the restaurant with the ability to build out a party room or event space, which has been a common ask of the restaurant for years.
“We are embracing it and looking forward to the challenge and opportunity,” said Magnuson who is expecting the restaurant to reopen at its new location in July.
Stacy’s Stars is in the process of signing a lease on their new location, but is in the “beginning stages” of submitting expense for flooring, mirrors, and other necessities to the city for their new location.
While the specifications of a dance studio are less onerous than those of a kitchen, for owner of Stacy’s Stars, Stacy Robinson, those details are important when building a new home: “I want it to look the way I want it to look.”
Robinson admitted being anxious about the move, even after they had found a new location: “I don’t like the change because I’m a person that doesn’t like change.”
Stacy’s Stars has been at the location since 2007 and in 2023 remodeled with new flooring, followed by further construction due to flooding in the space.
According to Robinson, the move has not affected the upcoming June 1 recital, and registration will be ready in August for fall classes at the studio’s new location.