Gina Pantely, managing partner of the Chelsea Grill, recently reopened the restaurant after it was damaged by fire in 2008.

Angele Cesere | AnnArbor.com

The Chelsea Grill reopened this month, two years after a fire on the roof of the Chelsea Shopping Center damaged six adjoining businesses.

“There was a lot of smoke and water damage,” said Nick Panos, whose aunt, Gina Pantely, is managing partner for the business.

After the fire, the restaurant owners decided to remodel and downsize, Panos said.

So the Chelsea Grill’s reopening features a new look, a new smaller space, and new staff.

Many menu items remain the same, Panos said. Favorites have been Italian dishes, seafood and prime rib on weekends.

The Chelsea Grill, which now seats about 200 in the Chelsea Shopping Center on South Main Street south of downtown.

Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com

The reopening follows extensive work on the shopping center to restore it, Panos said.

Besides the structural work, the center’s owner invested in new mechanical systems for the restaurant. Then Chelsea Grill owners invested both their own funds and money from the insurance claim to create the new look for the restaurant, including a large granite bar.

The new space is 5,000 square feet, about half of the previous location. It seats 200.

The center is located on South Main Street, south of downtown. Chelsea Grill opened there in 2002. Among the other stores damaged in the fire was Pamida, which reopened in fall 2008.

Representatives of the center - Gershenson Realty, based in Farmington Hills - did not return calls seeking information.