North Durham is set to welcome another locally developed Italian dining concept as Compa Pizza & Pasta prepares to open at Latta Park, the mixed-use development at Guess Road and Latta Road in Durham. Co-owner Josephine Finazzo confirmed the upcoming restaurant to WhatNow Charlotte, with a soft opening targeted for the first week of December 2026, as reported by The News & Observer.
Created by Josephine and her husband, Carlo Finazzo, Compa is a new venture from the owners of Pomodoro Italian Kitchen on Hillandale Road. The couple is building on its experience in Durham’s restaurant scene with a concept that puts two Italian favorites at the forefront: handmade pasta and pizza. The new restaurant will occupy approximately 2,640 square feet at Latta Park, according to the publication.
The name Compa has a connection to the couple’s Sicilian roots. As Josephine explained in the publication’s reporting, the word is a Sicilian expression for brotherhood or best friend. That meaning carries through to the restaurant’s identity, which is centered on genuine hospitality and creating a welcoming place where neighbors can meet, share a meal and feel at home.
In describing the new venture, Josephine emphasized the community atmosphere at Latta Park as an important reason for choosing the location. The intention is to establish a neighborhood restaurant that offers more than a meal, with a setting where guests can connect and return regularly. The couple also brings an established local following through Pomodoro Italian Kitchen, which was recognized by The News & Observer readers as the Triangle’s Best Italian Restaurant earlier this year.
Compa will become part of Latta Park’s growing dining and retail lineup, joining existing tenants Publix and Chipotle. The broader development is taking shape as a new neighborhood destination in North Durham, with additional retail, residential and community spaces planned, according to developer Crosland Southeast.
With its focus on handmade pasta, pizza and a distinctly welcoming approach to dining, Compa Pizza & Pasta Co. will give the Finazzos another opportunity to serve Durham while introducing a new concept to the city’s northern neighborhoods.
