Carol Shina never planned to open a restaurant. She grew up in New York, where on Sundays, she reveled in the aromas of fresh garlic, basil, mushrooms and Italian sausage, along with the sounds of sizzling pans in her Italian grandmother’s kitchen. Shina and her husband started a nuclear imaging company in their garage; they now have about 40 employees and accounts in several states.

When a space in the Oak Ridge shopping center became available in early spring 2017, they decided to take the plunge into the culinary world. They spent six months designing, decorating and testing family recipes. Bella Luna opened the following July. One wall is constructed from 160 year old wood that came out of a cotton mill. A fountain cascades over the restaurant logo on another. Family photos help establish the theme.