VICTOR — Victor Emporium owners Adam and Lee Zderski plan to break ground this fall on a restaurant expansion of their 75-year-old store, aiming to open in the spring of 2027 and give the business a boost during its slow winter months.

The expansion, announced as the Zderskis mark their first year of ownership, will add Neapolitan-style pizza and, eventually, a broader dinner menu to the shop's longtime fountain treats. The existing fountain, recently refurbished, will remain the centerpiece of the business, according to a statement from the owners.

Adam Zderski said the idea for a restaurant grew out of the store's slow winter season.

"Nobody seems to want an ice cream or a milkshake when it's 10 degrees outside," Zderski said.

He said he and Lee considered opening a cafe before deciding a full restaurant made more sense.

The idea to focus on pizza came together almost by accident, Zderski said, after the couple bought a pizza oven for their home last spring. He said the crust that came out of that home oven was rich, crispy and chewy all at once.

"The pizza just came out amazing," Zderski said. "We were like, well, this is the answer."

The restaurant will start with Neapolitan-style pizza and expand into a fuller Italian-style dinner menu over time, with hopes of eventually adding breakfast and lunch service, Zderski said. Plans also include Australian items such as meat pies, pasties and sausage rolls, a nod to the couple's home country.

Zderski said the Australian offerings were originally planned as grab-and-go items but were held off because the store's current food license doesn't allow on-site cooking for that concept. Those items will now be worked into the sit-down menu instead, likely as lunch fare.

The expansion is also expected to bring new jobs to the Victor community, with owners looking to hire a full-time chef and build out a full kitchen staff to run the restaurant.

Coming up on a year of ownership, Zderski said the couple's confidence in the expansion comes from steady demand they've already seen at the store, including 12,000 cars served during the Fourth of July weekend rush. He said a magazine reached out to feature the Emporium the same day as the interview.

"The confidence comes from knowing that we believe we can have a really good product," Zderski said.

The expansion includes extending the current building and adding a side patio with a green-space buffer to Depot Way, which will eventually be covered and heated for winter use. Lee Zderski has also played a hands-on role in running the store alongside Adam over the past year. The Emporium will remain open throughout construction.

Looking ahead, Zderski said he hopes the expansion gives the Victor community another option for going out and a place to gather, with plans to keep hosting community events at the store.

"From a business perspective, we can capture a bit of that market share as well," Zderski said. "I think it's a great opportunity."