By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer For Renaldo’s Apizza & Pasta Restaurant, it has been a long journey of 35 years. Once comprising a small part of the property when it first opened, the Italian restaurant, located at 378 North Main Street, has undergone expansions, as the business grew from take-out only to take-out, sit-down and catering services. “It’s come a long way,” said Renaldo Riccitelli, the original owner of the restaurant, who is now retired. “We only had a small section of this building at one time.” By 1985, Renaldo’s restaurant had two different sit-down dining areas, offering more space for local families to enjoy an Italian cuisine together. Riccitelli’s family also played a role in the business, as his children and wife worked in the kitchen. “We expanded the dining room,” said Riccitelli, adding that he also owned a restaurant in Waterbury and Cheshire before taking over Renaldo’s in Southington. “We just kept expanding until we had the whole building.” Although the size of Renaldo’s property has changed over the years, one part of the restaurant has remained the same for the past 35 years: the food and the loyal customers, something in which Riccitelli said he feels proud [...]
By Lisa Capobianco Staff Writer For Renaldo’s Apizza & Pasta Restaurant, it has been a long journey of 35 years. Once comprising a small part of the property when it first opened, the Italian restaurant, located at 378 North Main Street, has undergone expansions, as the business grew from take-out only to take-out, sit-down and catering services. “It’s come a long way,” said Renaldo Riccitelli, the original owner of the restaurant, who is now retired. “We only had a small section of this building at one time.” By 1985, Renaldo’s restaurant had two different sit-down dining areas, offering more space for local families to enjoy an Italian cuisine together. Riccitelli’s family also played a role in the business, as his children and wife worked in the kitchen. “We expanded the dining room,” said Riccitelli, adding that he also owned a restaurant in Waterbury and Cheshire before taking over Renaldo’s in Southington. “We just kept expanding until we had the whole building.” Although the size of Renaldo’s property has changed over the years, one part of the restaurant has remained the same for the past 35 years: the food and the loyal customers, something in which Riccitelli said he feels proud [...]