Virginia Tech memorabilia is piled in the upstairs of the former Bogen's Steakhouse. Frank Perkovich hopes to open the new restaurant at the site at the end of April.

JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

Frank Perkovich, the owner of Lefty's Main Street Grille in Blacksburg, stands in the wine bar section of his new restaurant, 622 North. The space is well known as the home Bogen's Steakhouse, which closed in May after 27 years in business.

The restaurant will be called 622 North after the building's North Main Street address. The space last housed Bogen's Steakhouse, which operated there from 1982 until May when it closed because of declining sales.

The wine bar "is long overdue here," said Trent Crabtree, sommelier and front-of-house manager. "I think this town really wants this, and they're finally in the position to support it."

Owner Frank Perkovich said the restaurant is scheduled to open in late April.

"If we don't have a few weeks under our belt before [Virginia Tech's] graduation, then we'll open after graduation," he said. "Graduation, with those crowds, is not the time to be working out the kinks." Tech's graduation ceremonies are set for May 14 and 15.

Perklovich is also the owner of Lefty's Main Street Grille on South Main Street and a former part owner of the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech. The golf course is what brought Perkovich and his family from California, where he practiced law.

He said his California roots will carry over to 622 North as they did in the menu of his first restaurant. Lefty's is a casual burger and sandwich restaurant that opened in April 2004.

622 North will be split into three areas: the dining room with a lunch and dinner menu; a wine bar with a lighter menu such as cheese and tapas; and a traditional bar area with pool tables, darts and video games, which will stay open after the restaurant closes.

An outdoor patio is planned for the bar, and smoking will be allowed there, Perkovich said.

Lunch will be "California-inspired sandwiches, burgers and salads," somewhat similar to Lefty's. Dinner will be affordable steaks, pastas and fish, Perkovich said. He and executive chef George Kruse of the Blacksburg Country Club are working on the menu, which has not been finalized.

"It'll be creative food with interesting ingredients," Perkovich said. "But we recognize the economy for what it is, so it's all going to be under $20."

He said he hopes that his experience with Lefty's and 622 North's location will help the new restaurant be successful.

"Bogen's worked here for 27 years, which is pretty remarkable in the restaurant business," he said. "But it's going to have a totally different feel and look than Bogen's, which we hope will bring in new customers, too."

Bill Ellenbogen owned Bogen's from its opening in 1982 until he sold it in 2004 to five longtime employees. He still owns the building, and said Perkovich is leasing but has the option to buy once 622 North gets going.

Although he's still disappointed that Bogen's closed, Ellenbogen said he's excited a new restaurant is opening in its space.

"I think it was hard for Bogen's to compete with all the new restaurants opening," he said this week, echoing comments he made last year when Bogen's closed. "But being a new presence with new ideas may give them a better chance to compete."

And Perkovich wants to assure Lefty's fans that he doesn't plan to close the restaurant once 622 North opens.

"My Lefty's manager is also the manager of 622 North, and I'll be going back and forth between both," he said. "But [Lefty's] isn't going to change."