After almost 50 years of dishing out Italian eats, Parasson’s Italian Restaurant in North Hill will close its doors the final day of the year.
Signs posted around the medieval-decorated restaurant at 501 N. Main St. remind regulars that its final day of business is Saturday.
“It’s something we’ve been contemplating several years now,” said restaurant owner Anthony Parasson. “The area’s changed over the years, and it was just time to move on and concentrate on our other three restaurants.”
Parasson said when the restaurant opened in 1967, the North Hill area was full of Italian immigrants. Now, though, with a heavier concentration of Asian refugees and immigrants in the area, restaurant-goers and workers agree business has slowed.
“At this place, the customer base went downhill,” said Bob Jones of Jones Group Interiors, a family friend of the Parassons whose brother managed the restaurant at one point.
He said in its prime, the Parasson’s on Main used to have a line out the door during lunchtime and coat racks filled with coats.
The restaurant was busy Thursday, though, as customers caught wind of its closing and flocked to the eatery to grab a final bite at the location.
“We used to come here after North Hill football games,” said Kelli Schott of Tallmadge. “Yep, we have a lot of memories here.”
“This used to be a fancy night out,” added her brother Ken Thompson, who still lives in North Hill. “It’s kind of disappointing it’s closing.”
In its 50 years of service, the restaurant has gained a presence among North Hill residents, many of whom took to Facebook to share memories of the place.
“I worked for Hospital Ambulance Service in 82/83, our garage bay doors opened behind their kitchen,” wrote James Donaldson of Akron in a comment on Facebook. “We ate so much of their food it became a part of our diet. End of an era. Thanks for the memories.”
“This is so sad. It was most definitely one of my childhood staples,” said Donna Lynn on Facebook.
Parasson’s has three other locations in the area that will remain open: 959 E. Waterloo Road, Akron; 3983 Darrow Road, Stow; and 234 Wooster Road N., Barberton.
Parasson let each employee at the Main Street location choose to which of the three locations he or she wanted to transfer. Darrell Welch, the restaurant’s manager, said Parasson even worked out transportation issues with employees to assure everyone still has a job after its doors close.
“It’s definitely sad, however, we’re all grateful for the opportunity to still have jobs,” Welch said.
That’s good news for employees who, like many of the customers, have a long history with the restaurant.
Sally Ritsko has been a waitress at the Main Street location for 42 years. She made sure to tell all her regular customers that she’s transferring to the Waterloo location.
“I just like the people I work for. Our customers are always so pleasant … it’s an all-around pleasant experience,” Ritsko said between waiting tables. “I’m sad to see it close. It’s kind of like my home away from home.”
The first Parasson’s opened in 1961 after Anthony Parasson, the current owner’s father, found success in selling pizzas at his mother’s tavern in Barberton. The Main Street location was the second of four restaurants he opened.
Its menu features a range of subs, pastas, pizzas and salads.
Parasson said he plans to put the property up for sale. Now that one location is closing, he can focus on improving the other three and “refreshing the brand,” he said.
Some of those improvements are already in motion, like a change in the food. He added a lunch menu with smaller portions, and he said he’s gone back to the original recipe for his garlic bread, which was changed after his father died.
“I made a few mistakes over the years,” Parasson said with a chuckle.
He also said he plans to remodel the interiors and exteriors of the other three locations beginning in 2017. For fans of the Main Street location’s interior, not to worry, Parasson said he plans to take the restaurant’s iconic knight in armor with him to the Waterloo location.
“We’re still trying to be creative and plug ahead,” Parasson said. “We plan to be around for many, many more years.”
Theresa Cottom can be reached at 330-996-3216 or tcottom@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @Theresa_Cottom .