Construction crews have gutted the former Matchbox space at 7278 Woodmont Ave. to make way for Prato, a Michelin Guide-listed Italian restaurant from Winter Park, Florida.

The buildout at Bethesda Row, at the corner of Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street, marks Prato's first location outside Florida. Bethesda blogger Robert Dyer reported Sept. 3 that the interior has been stripped and that the opening timeline has shifted from fall to "late fall." Dyer noted that window gives the project through Dec. 20.

The 14-year-old restaurant is expanding under parent company Park Lights Hospitality, led by CEO Scott Bowman. Bethesda will be Prato's second location. A Nashville outpost is planned for early 2027.

"We couldn't think of a better or more vibrant community than Bethesda to open our second Prato," Bowman said in a March 17 statement reported by Bethesda Magazine.

Prato's menu features wood-fired Margherita pizza with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil, along with house-made rigatoni with pork ragu. Small plates include burrata with heirloom tomatoes and wood-grilled octopus. The Bethesda space will incorporate design elements from the original Winter Park restaurant, according to MoCoShow.

Matchbox closed its Bethesda Row location on March 22, MoCoShow reported, ending a run of about 6.5 years. The restaurant had opened there in October 2019. The space sits in Federal Realty Investment Trust's Bethesda Row development in downtown Bethesda.

Prato was scheduled for a liquor license hearing with Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services on Aug. 20. The outcome of that hearing has not been publicly reported.

No specific opening date has been announced.