Sprouts & Shutters: New Restaurant Moving Into Old Marcello's Location

A popular San Ramon restaurant is opening up a second eatery in Danville.

Ruggie Van Muijen, the owner of the Ruggie's Restaurant, said he plans to expand and open a new place in the old Marcello's restaurant at 515 San Ramon Valley Blvd.

It'll be called The Growler because Van Muijen and his wife are U.C. Berkeley graduates.

Van Muijen said he hopes to open sometime this summer.

He'll run his catering business out of The Growler, but he also plans to have a dining area with a selection of beers and food.

"We want to have some fun with this," he said.

Ruggie's, located at 3191 Crow Canyon Place in San Ramon, features hamburgers and grilled crab sandwiches. It's been in business there for 28 years.

Marcello's has been closed for more than a year. Van Muijen, who has lived in Danville for decades and raised his family there, said he likes the location of the new place.

"It'd be silly for us not to take advantage of this," he said.

Kevin Gailey, Danville's chief of planning, said city officials welcome a new tenant in that location, especially a restaurant. He noted the facility is just outside the downtown area, so it helps expand the city's business sector.