The creator and proprietor of several popular food and beverage chains including Kildare’s Irish Pub and Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House has decided to sell one of his Downingtown restaurants in order to focus his energies on expansion.

As part of the process of expanding his Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar franchise across the state, Dave Magrogan decided it was time for one of his other restaurants to find a new owner. As a result, the Barra Rossa, restaurant, overlooking Brandywine Creek, was sold to Joe Milito who intends to transform the 244-seat eating establishment located at 20 E. Lancaster Ave.

“The real motivation is that Harvest is our best brand,” Magrogan told the Philadelphia Business Journal. “It’s where we want to focus our energy, talent, people, resources and capital.”

Magrogan will not be selling the Center City location of Barra Rossa, with that restaurant continuing to operate as normal.

“It’s still ours,” Magrogan said of the 929 Walnut St. location. “It’s performing well, and it’s a nice complement to the Walnut Street Theater and a very nice complement to Jefferson.”

Magrogan will be expanding his Harvest brand with a sixth location in Radnor, soon to be followed by a seventh in the Newtown borough of Bucks County, which is expected to open in the second half of next year.

The new owner of Barra Rossa, soon to be known as Milito’s Ristorante-Bar-Pizzeria, will still preserve the original concept of an Italian restaurant, wine bar and pizzeria, with minimum changes to the décor.

“As a family-owned and operated Italian restaurant, my main focus will be on quality, presentation and service,” said the new proud owner Milito. “We will keep the most popular entrées and appetizers on the menu and perhaps tweak a few others to create a new enjoyable experience that reflects the overall character of the restaurant.”

Barra Rossa will not change its current operations until January 15th. Therefore, any previously purchased gift cards will still be honored and all parties planned over holidays will remain on schedule.