Since we announced our closing on July 7th, we have had an overwhelming response these past two weeks. With our last week approaching, we expect to be even busier. Therefore, we ask for your patience, as we want to make your last visit as special as your first. Please understand that there may be a delay in seating your party or serving your meals. There is a bright side! You can spend extra time with Natalie or reminiscing in our memories room.
Saying goodbye is always a difficult task. So it is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of our restaurant on Saturday, July 28, 2018. The main reason for our decision centers on family, of course. Operating a large restaurant is an enormous task. For some members of our family, they have never known anything but the restaurant and the majority of their lives have revolved around it. Any job can take a toll on someone, but when that is compounded with health issues, and the fact that there isn’t a younger family member desiring to take over operations, we felt that the only decision was to close.
This was by no means an easy decision. It was agonizing, distressing, tearful, and not made in haste. Yes, there are regrets because the restaurant has been a part of our family, indeed has defined our family, for so many years. Our founders, Nat and Mary Carbone, would be so proud to know that we have reached the 80 year milestone! They always believed that family came first, and would certainly understand our decision.
It is difficult to express how much we have appreciated all of the support that the wonderful little town of Crabtree has given us. So many of you had your first jobs here when you were teenagers, or worked over the summer for extra money for college, or needed a fresh start after experiencing a family crisis, or just couldn’t stay retired. Whatever the reason, we couldn’t have done it without you! And how many times did you, our friends and neighbors, come to our aid when we were flooded!
To our many loyal guests and supporters, thank you so much for making our time with you enjoyable, entertaining and amusing! Things tend to get testy in the kitchen and dining room at times, but a heartwarming story, funny joke, and sincere compliment from you helped make it better. You have made all the hard work worthwhile. We have watched your children grow, your families get bigger, and have celebrated countless special occasions with you. You have truly become part of “our family.”
We have been fortunate to have had a great staff over the years. They have worked very hard for us in so many ways! There is much that goes on behind the scenes of a restaurant. There is no job that is unimportant and each staff member has played his or her part to keep us in business for 80 years. You have been here with us through it all: snow storms, power outages, floods, hot kitchens and hot dining rooms. You have given up your holidays and family functions. It is hard to express how much we appreciate the dedication, sacrifice and caring you have shown us. Many of you have become like family to us as well, because so many of you have been with us for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50+ years. You and your families have become part of our family and we will miss each and every one of you.
We want to spend the rest of the month of July doing what we have done and loved for the past 80 years. That is, to serve our guests, to have fun and reminisce with our friends, and to remember our founders, our co-workers, and our regulars that are not able to be with us to share their memories.
So we welcome you to stop in for a drink, salad, pizza, spaghetti, chicken parmigiana or whatever your favorite Carbone’s dish may be. Take a picture at the fountain, and relive whatever it was about Carbone’s that was special for you. Thank you one and all for you loyalty, patronage, and friendship over the decades. Don’t be upset, be happy for the special memories and good times we have shared.
God bless you all and thank you for everything. We couldn’t have done it without you.
With much love and gratitude,
Big Natalie, Little Natalie, Vinny, Melissa and Vanessa
Additional information:
We would love to hear from you if you would be kind enough to remain in contact with us. Please email us at carbonesrestaurant@gmail.com. You may also continue to speak with us or leave voice messages at our familiar number of 724-834-3430. Please visit carbonesrestaurant.com and make a comment on our “Memories” page or visit any of our other social media platforms that can be found on the website.
If you have a Carbone’s gift certificate and are unable to use it before we close, Rizzo’s Malabar Inn of Crabtree will kindly exchange your gift certificate for a Rizzo’s Gift card until November 1, 2018.
