For many years, 207 Oswego St. — which looks more like Old Liverpool Road to me — was the site of Ponderosa Steakhouse. Whenever my brother and his family visited from the West Coast, they’d enjoy digging deeply into Ponderosa’s all-you-can-eat buffet. A few years later, it became Wisteria, a Chinese restaurant, and in 2009 Juanita’s Mexican Kitchen relocated in from Syracuse’s North Side.
Later that same year, another venerable North Side business, Squadrito Foods, moved into a storefront on the west side of the building.
Well, Juanita’s Mexican Kitchen served its last enchilada in April, and Squadrito Foods sold its last sausage Sept. 1. Owners Frances and Vito Cusumano have decided to retire.
Frances’ dad, Frank Squadrito, opened a grocery store on Syracuse’s South Avenue in 1947 before moving the business to 412 Ash St. in 1949. The Squadrito family lived above the Ash Street store until moving their residence to Liverpool in 1977.
Four years ago, Frances and Vito moved the shop to Ponderosa Plaza, but nothing lasts forever.
“After 64 years in business, we want to thank all our loyal customers for all their support throughout the years,” Frances said.
We’ll miss the imported Italian cheeses, the Utica greens and especially that homemade Italian sausage. Ciao!
Treadmill heaven
Dozens of treadmills stand ready to roll inside the plate-glass windows at Pacific Health Club at 604 Old Liverpool Road, where Bresee Chevrolet and Burdick Chevrolet stood for decades.
Pacific Health hosted a soft opening at 7 a.m. last Saturday, Aug. 31. A grand opening is planned for mid-September.
Pacific Health Inc. is headquartered at 113 to 119 E. Bridge St. in Oswego. Find them on Facebook, or call the Liverpool club at 396-0455.
Healthy choice?
Back in November 2011, town voters narrowly rejected a proposal that would’ve allowed the town of Salina to buy the old Bresee property to house a new town hall and town highway department. Voters apparently hoped that the property taxes paid by Pacific Health would be a better benefit for town operations.
Popcorn plans
Speaking of new ventures on Old Liverpool Road, a fresh popcorn shop plans to open shortly at the old Sandwich Chief location, at 663 Old Liverpool Road. The space had been occupied for about four months — April through July — by Pascarella’s Bakery and Deli.
A good gal gone
As promised, Maria Herzog Saumier put up her dukes and fought like a warrior against the lung cancer that threatened her life. After a year-long battle, the disease finally overpowered her on Aug. 24.
Maria was just 53 years old.
A North Side native who lived in Liverpool for the past 17 years, Maria worked as a waitress for two decades at Gardenview Diner, 650 Old Liverpool Road, where she is sorely missed.
Krueger Funeral Home in Mattydale didn’t have enough parking spaces for all of Maria’s mourners at her wake on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Drivers parked illegally along Route 11, even though the undertakers advised against it.
Maria is survived by her husband, two daughters, three step-children and two grandchildren.
Gull delayed
Forget what I wrote in last week’s column about the Barking Gull opening in September.
Adam Gormel, whose family owns the Gull, the Cobblestone and The Retreat, told me Aug. 29 that the restaurant on the basin block at 116 S. Willow St., won’t be open until later in the fall.
Oh well, the cooler weather will surely make the Gull’s wood-fired pizzas taste even tastier!
