WEST CARTHAGE — Roma will soon be back, but in a new village.
The Roma Restaurant opened in the village of Gouverneur in 1948 and served original Italian-American dishes until it closed in 1997. Current proprietors Gregory and Carolyn J. Petitto will reopen the eatery next month, replacing the former Station II Restaurant on Bridge Street.
Mr. Petitto, who has been in the restaurant business for 36 years, has "had a lot of practice" opening eateries. He also started Greg's Restaurant in Gouverneur.
"I'm 53 and now I'm opening another restaurant," Mr. Petitto said, noting that he and his wife moved to Carthage about two years ago to retire.
His son, Carl A., will take over serving Greg's Restaurant's loyal customers.
"Nothing will be changed," Mr. Petitto said.
The Roma menu will feature his grandmother's original recipes, which include steak, ribs, chicken, seafood, pasta and pizza dishes. The Petittos will prepare the dishes themselves.
"It's terrific food," Planning Board Chairman Ronald J. Blinebry said at Thursday's meeting as he recalled eating at the original restaurant every other Sunday.
Mr. Petitto plans to bring his family traditions to the village.
As it turns out, his family's traditions precede him. The restaurant's bar is the same one that Roma customers sat at throughout its 49 years of business, drinking beer and eating the ever-popular spaghetti dish.
The Petittos will keep the bar, but they will serve only draft beer and wine, not liquor.
"It's going to be a family restaurant," Mr. Petitto said.
For now, the Roma will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday.
Mr. Petitto expects the eatery to add six to eight jobs to the area.
Before reopening the building's doors, the restaurateurs must receive a zoning permit. Mr. Petitto also is changing the lettering on the building and getting a new sign. Otherwise, the building is fully equipped to start business right away.
Since the Petittos are leasing the property from Gary R. Johnson, the special use permit that was issued for Station II is still valid, Mr. Blinebry said.
Two more businesses soon will be opening in the village.
The Planning Board approved a preliminary site plan for a new 1,600-square-foot Northern Federal Credit Union branch, which would be built next to the Nice N Easy store on Bridge Street.
The credit union previously had a branch in Carthage near what is now the Metro Paper Industries mill. That branch closed several years ago.
"We were no longer able to service our members in this area. Now the opportunity has gotten to the point where now we can re-establish that link with our members," Northern Federal Credit Union Chairman Gary Rowe said. "We have a place in Lewis County in Lowville, and we have another place in Gouverneur. It just makes a lot of sense."
NAPA Auto Parts will move from its Carthage location to a new building that will be constructed on North Broad Street next to Dr. Paul L. Vanier's practice. Owner Lee Gill hopes to start construction either this month or in September.
