LIFE

Historic Middletown bank transforming into restaurant

"The Bank" is the tentative name for a new restaurant scheduled to open in 2016 at the corner of West Main and North Broad streets in Middletown. Workers in mid-December began painting the columns.
"The Bank" is the tentative name for a new restaurant scheduled to open in 2016 at the corner of West Main and North Broad streets in Middletown. Workers in mid-December began painting the columns.
Patricia Talorico/The News Journal
Chef Patrick D'Amico stands in the gutted building in early September. This will be the second restaurant from D'Amico and his partners in the RM Hospitality Group. On Dec. 16, the group opened their first eatery, Metro Pub & Grill on 17 Wood St., a few blocks away from The Bank.
Chef Patrick D'Amico stands in the gutted building in early September. This will be the second restaurant from D'Amico and his partners in the RM Hospitality Group. On Dec. 16, the group opened their first eatery, Metro Pub & Grill on 17 Wood St., a few blocks away from The Bank.
SUCHAT PEDERSON/THE NEWS JOURNAL
On Dec. 11, Chef Patrick D'Amico stands at the top of the new "floating" staircase inside The Bank restaurant. (It's not "floating" yet.) D'Amico says hopes to welcome diners to the site, a long vacant bank building, by February, though he says the opening might be later.
On Dec. 11, Chef Patrick D'Amico stands at the top of the new "floating" staircase inside The Bank restaurant. (It's not "floating" yet.) D'Amico says hopes to welcome diners to the site, a long vacant bank building, by February, though he says the opening might be later.
Patricia Talorico/The News Journal
The building is a former Delaware Trust that dates back to about 1918. It's been vacant for about 14 years.
The building is a former Delaware Trust that dates back to about 1918. It's been vacant for about 14 years.
Patricia Talorico/The News Journal
D'Amico says he and his partners are keeping much of the integrity of the building, including the original, arched windows.
D'Amico says he and his partners are keeping much of the integrity of the building, including the original, arched windows.
Patricia Talorico/The News Journal
D'Amico checks out the progress. He says he has long been enamored with the West Main Street building. "I just fell in love with it."
D'Amico checks out the progress. He says he has long been enamored with the West Main Street building. "I just fell in love with it."
Patricia Talorico/The News Journal