Seven months after submitting architectural plans to put a coffee shop inside the Riverside train station, the business’ owners began demolition last week and project to open Soul Amici Express in the fall.

Since last December, the concept for the business has changed quite a bit. While Soul Amici Express will operate as a commuter coffee shop in the mornings and will serve sandwiches for lunch, it will also include a catering business and offer take-out dinner packages for commuters heading home to their families.

“People can order in the morning or online and then pick up family packs when they get off the train,” said Yvonne Nielsen, catering and marketing manager, of the dinner concept.

The train station is located at 90 Bloomingbank Road.

For Anthony and Lynn DiGianfilippo, Soul Amici Express’ owners, the restaurant is a first-time venture. Initially, according to Nielsen, the DiGianfilippos envisioned a full-service restaurant operating in the corner space at the Village Center in downtown Riverside.

Nielsen, who is an experienced catering professional, is Lynn DiGianfilippo’s aunt.

The architectural firm for Soul Amici Express at the train station is Group A Architects, which designed the Village Center.

But as the economy began to buckle and investors grew skittish, the plans for a full-service Soul Amici fizzled. Village government officials, however, approached the DiGianfilippos and let them know the train station was available.

In 2006, David Moreau, the owner of Grumpy’s Café, had inquired about using the train station for his business, and approved a proposal for a 1,000-square-foot store. But the plan, which depended partially on Moreau being able to qualify for funds from a proposed downtown TIF district, never materialized.

Moreau eventually moved his business to 35 E. Burlington St. in Riverside.

“At first we thought we’d just do a coffee shop and that it would give us an opening in the village in case we wanted to proceed later with the restaurant,” said Nielsen.

As plans evolved for the coffee shop, however, the DiGianfilippos felt there would be a market for catering and commuter take-out food. While the business won’t have any indoor seating for patrons, there could be an outdoor seating area on the train platform in the future, Nielsen said. However, outdoor seating is unlikely in 2009, given the September/October opening date.

And while the menu is still in the works, it will feature both Italian food and American Southern barbecue. The business will employee three chefs to prepare the food. Andre Robinson will serve up the soul food, while two others will work on the Italian specialties.

Riverside residents curious about just what kind of food Soul Amici Express may be planning were able to find out on Friday and will be able to do so again on July 9 at the Chamber of Commerce’s Cruise Night.

According to Nielsen, Soul Amici Express will be firing up its mobile 9-foot grill, which is in the shape of a train, to serve up chicken cacciatore sandwiches, hot wing sandwiches and other items. During the summer months, Soul Amici Express’ catering wing is hoping to do outdoor southern-style barbecue on a for-hire basis.

“When we’re not utilizing the grill, we’ll do those dishes in the indoor facility,” Nielsen said.