Italian restaurant’s new house owners expand eating possibilities | Organization

But which is not the story with La Casa di Norma in Crystal River. The former house owners of the Italian cafe experienced very long sought to retire and market the place. Not only did they discover a eager customer all set to just take a prospect on the recent economic situations, but the new owners have by now started enlargement options.

Deisy Rivas and German Perez admit their pals considered they have been insane to acquire now. But they could not resist the prospect.

“I love this restaurant,” said Deisy Rivas.

Rivas said she and her spouse have been regulars as nicely at the restaurant and bought to know the former proprietors, Licio and Norma Ortiz, very well. 

Rivas and Perez, both from Venezuela, said they want to establish on the restaurant’s good results and include a handful of extras.

And they’ve currently finished so. 

They’ve tweaked the inside decor a bit and additional some additional Italian entrees to the menu. On the wall are framed pictures of some of the regular patrons. They’ve also expanded the several hours of the location: 2 to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and closed Sunday.

Rivas reported business enterprise has been constant but she thinks several people never know about the alter of ownership. She’s hoping word-of-mouth will assistance. The few also mounted outside seating in case patrons apprehensive about the pandemic are still hesitant to dine within.

Assisting out at La Casa Di Norma are the couple’s 11-year-aged daughter, Isabella, and cook dinner, Nicholas Arias.

Norma Ortiz explained she is happy the restaurant they owned for 26 yrs will carry on on with the same Italian flavor.

The pandemic did not hinder the Ortizes from placing the cafe on the marketplace. When the new entrepreneurs have been located, it was time for Licio and Norma Ortiz to notice their aspiration of traveling.

“We are setting up, as soon as this virus goes away, to journey all in excess of the world,” she reported.

The restaurant is at 1609 Southeast U.S. 19, in the Crystal River Procuring Heart. It received its name — The Household of Norma — from Norma Ortiz. She and her spouse owned it for 26 decades.

Ecuador-born Licio was the chef and Norma did waitressing and a little bit of every little thing. They looked on the staff members as their grandkids.

Norma Ortiz, who emigrated to the U.S. from Salerno, Italy, stated the COVID-19 pandemic did not figure into the determination to retire. The restaurant was for sale right before the virus hit.

At 68 several years old, it was merely time to retire, she mentioned.

Norma reported the new operator stored the identify because of its identify recognition.

Ortiz reported it was tricky leaving a spot that had been a part of them for so lengthy.

“We have a good deal of recollections,” she explained. “A great deal of gorgeous recollections.”