Papa Joe’s tradition continues

Standing near the charred remnants of her business in January, Donna Giarratana shook her head in semi-defeat. Days earlier, the restaurant she and her husband, Joe, had built 32 years earlier had gone up in flames.

“At first we were saying, ‘We’ll rebuild.’ Now I don’t know how,” Giarratana said back then, her eyes moist after the reality of what they had lost began to sink in.

Nine months later a parade of vehicles circled the site of the former landmark — now gutted and leveled behind construction site fencing — and wrapped around a couple of tents covering hundreds of takeout meals.

Loyal customers, many of whom annually celebrate the anniversary of the eatery, came for the traditional 99-cent spaghetti, a Papa Joe’s tradition. Many were surprised the event wasn’t postponed. Others had no doubt, knowing the Giannatanas, that they somehow would pull out another celebration to remember.

There was no building in which to seat customers, but that didn’t stop the party. Music played and raffle tickets were sold to benefit a local charity. And pasta — as much as 1,800 boxes — and 900 hand-rolled meatballs were served to customers waiting in their cars.

Papa Joe’s has broken ground and new construction is under way atop the site of the former building. Papa Joe’s Italian Restaurant expects to reopen in the spring.

Email Hernando Today correspondent Kim Dame at [email protected].