ALLENTOWN, Pa. – An Allentown staple will soon close its doors for good. The owner of Louie’s Italian Restaurant and Catering says he is retiring at the end of the year. WFMZ’s Josh Rultenberg sat down with the man who says it’s time to move on.
Louis Bellitieri says everyone in his family worked at Louie’s at some point over the last 61 years.
“I first got involved when I was 12 years old,” says Belletieri.
Louis’ father Gino and mom Susan started the business, originally known as Gino’s, over on 12th and Chew streets. Twelve years ago, the restaurant moved to the SouthSide.
When asked how he would best sum up what Louie’s represents, Belletieri said, “Allentown, period.”
But on December 31, the punctuation will come on Louie’s. The restaurant will close. Now at 72, Louis says it is tough to walk away.
“We have about six or seven people that are with us 25 years plus so it’s been a little hard on that part of it,” says Belletieri.
Ginny Andrashko has been a server at Louie’s for 33 years.
“It’s like part of my life and all of a sudden it’s over and I don’t know what I’m going to do,” says Andrashko.
Longtime customer Fred Schuler feels the same way.
“It’s just a great group of people that end up sitting here eating and enjoying his good food and I’m gonna miss it,” Schuler says.
Belletieri, who once ran for mayor, made headlines recently for another reason. He is facing 30 counts of felony theft because the state says he did not pay them close to $90,000 in sales taxes but he does not seem too worried.
“Today we got some very good news and we’re hoping that that good news will spread and take care of the things that put this behind us,” Belletieri said.
And before the kitchen closes, Louie’s will hold a retirement celebration its final week.
“It’s a little hard to accept it sometimes but I think it’s time. You know it is time,” says Belletieri.