A final farewell from Parisi’s Ristorante Italiano

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After 44 years of being a beloved community staple, Parisi’s Ristorante Italiano is closing its doors at the end of the week as the owner, Roberto Parisi, heads into his next chapter of retirement.  

The restaurant, now located at 1412 S Bend Ave just across from Notre Dame’s campus, opened in 1981 after Roberto immigrated to American from Italy with his parents, Gelormo and Elvira Parisi. Roberto was just 13 years old. 

Parisi’s first location was a small, 27-seat capacity restaurant located at 1709 S Bend Ave. After six years, they made the move to the current location.  

“So, it’s been a dream come true, mostly for my parents, but they certainly have done a great job, and I owe, I owe my entire life to them, they were just great. So, we shared all of these beautiful recipes, and we still have the ‘Mama’s Lasagna’ and many more dishes. Of course, her sauce, her meatballs, all the things that make Parisi’s pretty much known all over the country,” said Roberto.  

It was a dream created by Roberto’s parents and carried out by him and his family over the years, including his boys: Travis, Antonio, and Derek.  

“You know, I’m 41 years old, the restaurant is 44 so, it literally has been my entire existence. I can remember going back and being here on the weekends when we’re working football weekends and all I wanted as a child was to go home, but we’re here until two, three, I’d fall asleep underneath these tables on the chairs here, until I would get poked to say we’re going home, we’re closed up now,” said Travis.  

As the one running the show, football season will always hold a special place in Roberto’s heart as he welcomed in customers, who became family, from all over the country.  

“You know, going home at 4 am and starting at 8 am did not mean anything. You didn’t go home tired, you went home happy because you were surrounded by some wonderful, wonderful people,” said Roberto.  

Roberto said making the choice to close this chapter was bittersweet. 

“At a certain point in life, you’ve got to say, what are you going to do, you know? Are we still going to stay here until God calls us? At some point, you just have to wake up and say let’s have fun,” said Roberto.  

Roberto said he looks forward to spending more time with his young granddaughter, but he and the whole family will still be out and about in the South Bend community.  

“What can you say? You know, you’re going to miss everybody not being here, but we’re going to run into each other different places, whether it’s a restaurant, whether it’s at the football game. You know, life goes on, but I will miss my people,” said Roberto.  

For their final farewell, they are hosting a customer appreciation party this Sunday, however, within 24 hours of that announcement, they already had over 300 reservations. That sadly means they are all booked up, but for the Parisi family, that support is overwhelming. 

“Without Notre Dame, without our neighbors, without the wider community here, you know, this restaurant wouldn’t be able to survive and we’re thankful to the bottom of our hearts for everything that they have brought us over the years,” said Travis.