Ë®¹ûÅÉAV

That's when he knew Wildforyogurt had to change.

Almost two years later, that change is complete: Wild's Eats & Sweets, now located down the hall of Genesee Center toward the corner of South and Genesee streets. The new restaurant is 2,700 square feet to the yogurt shop's 1,200, and includes two sit-down dining areas, one with a door so it can host private parties. Its grand opening is Wednesday, Nov. 1.

Wild said that Wild's Eats & Sweets will continue serving frozen yogurt, pizza and wings, while adding pulled pork sandwiches and deep-fried pizza bites made with a custom smoker and fryer on site. It'll also serve hard ice cream, smoothies and milkshakes and other desserts, draught and bottled beer, wine and wine slushies. Also possible are wraps, soup and salad bars, and more, he said.

"The menu is going to get bigger, but it's generally going to be the same products," he said. "I can get real creative now."

Wild said design work on the new restaurant began in October 2016. He and his father, David, started building it in April. The space previously held two locker rooms that had to be removed, but aside from plumbing, electric and the installation of a window facing South Street, the father and son completed the renovation themselves, Mathew said. He called its look "upscale yet rustic."

"Essentially it's a pizzeria with a little upscale look," he said.

The space provides Wild's Eats & Sweets not only more size but more visibility, Mathew said. Being open until 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, he continued, he'll be in a position to draw the downtown area's nightlife crowds who want pizza or wings. Mathew said he'll have street signage installed this week, and "you're going to know I'm here."

The restaurant logo features cartoon renditions of Mathew, David and Wild's mom, Kathy. Though Mathew took over the business in June, the logo signifies his parents' role in launching it, he said.

"The logo was a present to them: 'Hey, I wouldn't be here without you,'" he said. "I brought the dessert to the business, my dad had the pizza recipe, and my mom is always stuck in the middle of us. That's family business. Me and my dad, we argue quite a bit and my mom's always stuck in the middle. As soon as I say that, the people that know us start laughing because they understand."

Wild has also hired a few employees. The restaurant will take orders at its counter, give customers tickets and deliver food to their tables, but there will be one wait staff on the floor to check in with tables, Wild said. Though he hopes to staff 10 to 12 like most full-service restaurants, he said he won't hire them until he's certain he won't have to let them go.

Wild already feels good about his new restaurant's chances. Though he because he saw an opening in the Auburn area's food options, he said that opening was quickly "flooded." Auburn's frigid winters were no help, he added. If he didn't start serving pizza and wings, he said, his shop would have closed years ago, just as its did recently.

Now, Wild has been hearing people clamor for his pizza as he prepares to open Wild's Eats & Sweets. Whether it's slices at the counter or pies for delivery, a private party there or catering elsewhere, he knows his new restaurant serves something for everyone, in every season. Food service may be tough, Wild said, but the thrill of entrepreneurship keeps him going.

"Running a business is exactly what I want to do," he said. "It's been a heck of a journey."