This last week I enjoyed a some final meals with Mary and Heather at Stanello’s Italian Restaurant and Patricia brought some take-out pizza home to share with friends because it was to crowded to get into another night. See, they are closing after 34 years. Building got sold for a bundle, probably be torn down and made into condo’s or something.
I debated putting anything in this blog about this, but hey, its my blog and Stanello’s closing is like anyones neighborhood pub closing. Besides, I figure the Gargett’s in Bellingham have spent at least twenty, twenty-five grand there and we have had a lot of family meals, parties and fun there. So, here is what I think-
I have been living in Bellingham since 1970 when there were really only bars in Fairhaven. That was good, but we did need somewhere to eat besides Toad Hall and Dos Padres. I think it was around 1972 or 1973 when a restaurant opened called Sofies. Nice place but it did not last. Stan Velis opened it as Venus Pizza in 1974.
I was still in college. The Venus Royal was our favorite after Scuba Diving class. There were a lot of us who hung out at Venus Pizza during, and after, College, and still do (or did). Great place, good food, people were nice and the bar was a heck of a lot of fun. Oh, and somewhere in here Stan changed the name to Stanello’s.
The years passed, I got married a few times, kids came along, but still Stanello’s was a place to hang out. Same owner, same friendly people, same food, same drink. It was good, reliable and friendly. We had a lot of parties and a lot of just plain old fashion “let’s go out and eat” family meals there.
After 20 years in its original location, Stan bought the old motorcycle shop down the street, tore it down and built a bigger place. He named it the Frannick Building after his parents, Francis and Nicolas – that was cool.
Some people liked the new building – they called it innovative and new, some did not – one friend called it a mausoleum, but what the heck, the food was still good and Stan even recreated the old brick wall from the old place.
So Stan, thanks for helping with the memories – from hanging while at college, to the kids coloring your pictures, to the birthday parties, to my folks surprise 60th anniversary dinner, to a relaxing meal after dad’s funeral, to making sure my mom’s minestrone soup was always hot, to making my special small white pizza with feta cheese, double anchovies and garlic, to enjoying your last couple nights.
Your food was always good, the staff friendly, and the beer cold.
Oh, just in case I over did this, Stan is not dead, just closed the restaurant. Rumor is he is going on a cruise and hanging out at the beach.
He did, I am told by a reliable source, keep the name, menu, recipes, so …… ?
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