Cono and Anna Morena have deep roots in Williamsburg — not only have they owned La Nonna, a cozy Bedford Avenue Italian retreat, since 2007, Anna’s grandfather owns the neighborhood’s San Marco Pizzeria. So when they began looking for a second location in the same vicinity, they were conscious of the challenges of rebuilding a crowd of regulars. La Nonna’s second location on the Williamsburg waterfront made its debut last week.

The space is at the base of 184 Kent Avenue, a landmark building that was formerly the home of the city’s largest grocer. Kent Avenue was not a place you went to when she was growing up, Anna recalls. But with the transformation of Williamsburg from an industrial afterthought into an artistic attraction, the real estate is prime space for a family joint — even if it’s in a luxury condo building. “We never even thought about going anywhere else,” says Anna.

Their love for Italian food has passed down through generations of chefs, and now the Morena family has doffed yet another culinary feather in their cap with the launch of La Nonna Ristorante and Bar on Kent Avenue Wednesday night.

The new opening marks the second foray into Williamsburg’s culinary world for the chef and owner of La Nonna, Cono Morena, who also runs the popular La Nonna Pizzeria Trattoria Paninoteca on Bedford Avenue, a neighborhood staple since 2007.

La Nonna marks a foray into a more fine dining style of southern Italian cooking for Morena compared to the more laidback vibe at the Pizzeria.