After 32 years in business, Italo Marzari has closed the doors on his Charlottetown restaurant for good.
Sirenella Ristorante, which has been operating on Water Street since 1992, served its final customers last Saturday.
Marzari said he normally gets a light crowd on Halloween. Maybe 30 people.
However, as word spread that it was the final day more than 100 customers turned out.
“It wasn’t easy saying goodbye to them,’’ Marzari told The Guardian on Thursday, referring to his customers and staff. “It was the hardest week but I had to come to a decision because it was so many years of my life.’’
Marzari, who arrived in Canada in 1967 from a tiny town in northern Italy, will soon turn 70.
He’s been working six days a week since he opened in Charlottetown.
Italo and his wife, Lise, want to spend time with the children and grandchildren.
They have a son in Halifax and a daughter in Vancouver.
“And we want to start doing everything we’ve always told our customers to do,’’ says Lise, who is from Montreal.
“Now, we are going to relax and move around a little bit. I want to go camping, take a camera and a map...there is so much activity out there in the Island,’’ Italo says.
CLICK HERE TO READ REACTION TO THE CLOSURE FROM SOME OF MARZARI'S CUSTOMERS
While the restaurant has served its final Zuppa allAragosta and Vitello al Limone, the Marzari’s aren’t going anywhere.
P.E.I. has been and will continue to be home.
Italo Marzari is a cancer survivor and plans to volunteer at the P.E.I. Cancer Treatment Centre because he wants to give back for all they’ve done for him.
Marzari came to Canada by himself in 1967 to learn English and French.
He had no job and no experience in the food and beverage industry.
He found a job as a bus boy in Montreal, unable to afford a bottle of wine.
Two years later he moved to Toronto and got a job as a waiter at the Royal York hotel.
Marzari was eventually promoted to captain waiter and quickly developed management skills.
He and a friend opened their first restaurant in Halifax about five years later.
“I found that I loved the Maritimes. I loved the people.’’
His journey would continue at the Culinary Institute of Canada in Charlottetown and then to a small decrepit structure on Water Street where Sirenella’s was born.
“I saw potential and a vision. There was nothing like it (in Charlottetown).’’
Lise took one look at the place and thought her husband was crazy.
But Italo said “I was in heaven. You have to have the guts to do things. It was a gamble. In the end, I’m happy I did it.’’
During the peak summer season, Sirenella’s would employ up to 15 full- and part-time staff.
When Marzari is asked about what feels different, he answers simply “In the morning I don’t have to buy the groceries’’.
Arrivederci!
After 32 years in business, Italo Marzari has closed the doors on his Charlottetown restaurant for good.
Sirenella Ristorante, which has been operating on Water Street since 1992, served its final customers last Saturday.
Marzari said he normally gets a light crowd on Halloween. Maybe 30 people.
However, as word spread that it was the final day more than 100 customers turned out.
“It wasn’t easy saying goodbye to them,’’ Marzari told The Guardian on Thursday, referring to his customers and staff. “It was the hardest week but I had to come to a decision because it was so many years of my life.’’
Marzari, who arrived in Canada in 1967 from a tiny town in northern Italy, will soon turn 70.
He’s been working six days a week since he opened in Charlottetown.
Italo and his wife, Lise, want to spend time with the children and grandchildren.
They have a son in Halifax and a daughter in Vancouver.
“And we want to start doing everything we’ve always told our customers to do,’’ says Lise, who is from Montreal.
“Now, we are going to relax and move around a little bit. I want to go camping, take a camera and a map...there is so much activity out there in the Island,’’ Italo says.
CLICK HERE TO READ REACTION TO THE CLOSURE FROM SOME OF MARZARI'S CUSTOMERS
While the restaurant has served its final Zuppa allAragosta and Vitello al Limone, the Marzari’s aren’t going anywhere.
P.E.I. has been and will continue to be home.
Italo Marzari is a cancer survivor and plans to volunteer at the P.E.I. Cancer Treatment Centre because he wants to give back for all they’ve done for him.
Marzari came to Canada by himself in 1967 to learn English and French.
He had no job and no experience in the food and beverage industry.
He found a job as a bus boy in Montreal, unable to afford a bottle of wine.
Two years later he moved to Toronto and got a job as a waiter at the Royal York hotel.
Marzari was eventually promoted to captain waiter and quickly developed management skills.
He and a friend opened their first restaurant in Halifax about five years later.
“I found that I loved the Maritimes. I loved the people.’’
His journey would continue at the Culinary Institute of Canada in Charlottetown and then to a small decrepit structure on Water Street where Sirenella’s was born.
“I saw potential and a vision. There was nothing like it (in Charlottetown).’’
Lise took one look at the place and thought her husband was crazy.
But Italo said “I was in heaven. You have to have the guts to do things. It was a gamble. In the end, I’m happy I did it.’’
During the peak summer season, Sirenella’s would employ up to 15 full- and part-time staff.
When Marzari is asked about what feels different, he answers simply “In the morning I don’t have to buy the groceries’’.
Arrivederci!
The following are tweets from customers reacting to Sirenella Ristorante closing:
- “One last supper at Sirenella’s. So sad to see it close. All the best to the family,’’ says @GoldenBrookss.
- “Having our last meal at Sirenella’s. Tomorrow is their last day. Nov. 1 will be a sad day,’’ says @FlyersRule71.
- “Sharing an exceptional farewell lunch at Sirenella’s. This place will be missed!’’ says @melldover.
