Posted by womanabouttown | Posted in Restaurants, Willmar | Posted on 22-02-2012
The building pictured is a surplus warehouse, located on Hwy 12, on the western outskirts of Willmar. I have not been inside, but I’m sure it’s very useful, yada yada yada. Anyhow, the first time I saw it, I was transported back to 1975 in Los Angeles. The building is so reminiscent of the family-owned Italian restaurants I remember going to as a kid, for a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs. It’s the multiple stone arches that do it for me. The roof is steel, but we can pretend that it’s red tile…… Wouldn’t that be fun if this was an Italian restaurant? And I’m not talking about a lame Olive Garden. Oh no. It would be authentic Italian, and it would be a real destination place, known for miles around. You’d walk in the place, and you would immediately feel Italian because the staff would affectionately yell out an Italian greeting to you, genuinely glad to see you. The place would resonate with happy chatter, clinking silverware, and laughter. As you walked to your table, you would see your neighbors, and they would stand up to greet you, warmly shaking your hand with both of theirs. Maybe somebody would be playing the piano in the back room. The host would seat your group in a nice table or booth, saying “HAVE A SEAT, ALL A YOUSE!”……..Those are my thoughts almost every time I drive by the place.
