De Novo  /  Our Story

Our Story

A landmark reborn. A legacy reimagined.

The Beginning

"De Novo — meaning 'anew' in Latin — is a declaration. Not just of a restaurant, but of a commitment to this community, this history, and this craft."

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When the First National Bank of Montclair closed its doors after nearly a century of service, this extraordinary building — with its soaring marble columns, ornate plasterwork, and the original steel vault — faced an uncertain future. We saw something else entirely: a stage for one of New Jersey's most distinctive dining experiences.

Est. 1920

A Century of
Character

Built in 1920 at the height of the Beaux-Arts architectural movement, the First National Bank of Montclair was designed to inspire confidence — in commerce, in community, and in permanence.

The building's original features — 22-foot coffered ceilings, hand-laid mosaic floors, bronze teller windows, and cast iron fixtures — have been meticulously restored rather than replaced. Every scar, every patina tells a story. We let them speak.

The renovation took 18 months of careful, deliberate work. Structural engineers. Preservation architects. Local craftsmen. Each decision guided by a single question: does this honor what came before?

Historic bank interior with original architectural details
La CassaForte

The Vault

De Novo's most singular space — an intimate dining room enclosed by the original bank vault. Eight guests. One extraordinary evening.

The Vault dining room at De Novo

The vault door — 12 inches of solid steel, original to the 1920s construction — swings open to reveal one of New Jersey's most extraordinary dining rooms. Original tile floors. Walls lined with original safety deposit boxes, now repurposed as candle niches. A table for eight, set with the care of a private dinner party.

The Vault is available exclusively through our Vault Dinner Series — a monthly tasting menu event — or for private bookings. Seating is limited. Demand is significant.

Inquire About The Vault →
Executive Chef at work
La Cucina

The Italian
Philosophy

Our kitchen is guided by a fundamental respect for the Italian culinary canon — not as a museum piece, but as a living, breathing tradition that evolves with each season and each relationship with our producers.

Pasta is rolled by hand daily. Stocks are long-simmered. Every element on the plate is there because it belongs — nothing more, nothing less. We source regionally where possible and nationally where excellence demands it.

This is not fusion. This is not deconstruction for its own sake. This is Italian cooking done with integrity and served with warmth.

The People Behind De Novo

Meet the Team

Marco Santini, Executive Chef
Marco Santini
Executive Chef & Partner

Trained in Bologna and refined in New York, Chef Marco brings 20 years of Italian culinary mastery to Montclair's table.

James Callahan, Owner
James Callahan
Founder & Owner

A lifelong Montclair resident and hospitality entrepreneur with a deep reverence for the building's history and the community it serves.

Sofia Moreau, Sommelier
Sofia Moreau
Beverage Director & Sommelier

A Master Sommelier with a focus on small Italian producers, natural wines, and curated cocktail programs built around the seasons.

Phase I — The Construction Chronicles

From Vault to Table

We documented every phase of De Novo's creation. Here is the journey.

Spring 2023
The Discovery

The First National Bank building becomes available. A vision for De Novo takes shape over months of conversations, site visits, and architectural assessments.

Fall 2023
Preservation Begins

A team of preservation architects and structural engineers begin the meticulous process of assessment. The original vault is intact. The bones are extraordinary.

Winter 2023 – Spring 2024
Demolition & Discovery

Interior demolition reveals original mosaic floors hidden beneath decades of overlay. Decisions made every day: preserve, restore, or reimagine.

Summer 2024
Building Begins

Local craftsmen restore the original plasterwork. The bar is fabricated from reclaimed bank materials. The kitchen is equipped for serious culinary ambition.

Fall 2024
The Team Assembles

Chef Marco Santini joins as Executive Chef & Partner. Front-of-house team recruited. Training begins. The menu takes its final form.

Early 2025
De Novo Opens

The vault door swings open. The table is set. Montclair's most anticipated dining destination welcomes its first guests.

The Table Awaits

Experience De Novo

Come see what a century of history looks like when it's set for dinner.

Reserve Your Table