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Viva Sposita's!

Neighborhood Italian bistro is a 15-year success story.

A

nother wonderful example of a
Sposita's has grown into a
restaurant standing on its own
neighborhood Italian restau-
merits and not that of a promi-
rant that brings much close-
nent name from yesteryears has been
ness between its owners and
exemplified in the Sposita's Ristorante
customers ... Crowds of loyal
story, which bears telling again on its 15th
followers and out-of-the-area
anniversary.
devotees continually follow this
The original opening was to have been
highly regarded Italian eatery
under another name, with one of the part-
... Good food at reasonable
ners' last name a highly thought of one in
prices in a clean atmosphere
the restaurant business ... When the part-
cannot be beaten ... A family
nership split up, the noted family name
restaurant like Sposita's that is
could not be used.
so much like those of yester-
This put the one who was left with a
years will always be at the forefront of a
restaurant but no name for it in somewhat
successful dining operation.
of a predicament ... The suggestion was
It was important that listening to wiser
made by another to use his own last name
restaurant heads took over for inexperi-
... After all, he was told, a name in the res- ence 15 years ago ... Joe and Lois were
taurant business was really only as good as
seemingly being left out in the cold with
its food and service
a restaurant maybe
... The name actu-
doomed to fail
ally meant very little
because a highly
... Most important
well-known name
was seeing customers
could not be used ...
return.
But their determina-
And so it was
tion won out in a big
that the partner was
way and the thought
smart enough to
of closing never
accept that reasoning
entered their minds.
and changed the sign
Little sugges-
Lois and Joe Sposita
to his family name.
tions by others were
Today, Sposita's
listened to, like
Ristorante on 14 Mile
changing to a top-
and Farmington roads, West Bloomfield,
of-the-line spumoni instead of that being
celebrates its 15th anniversary ... with
used ... This has made a big difference as
regular customers coming back again and
was experienced by the use of only higher-
again ... and many first-timers, too.
quality food and more-than-ample menu
As a neighborhood family restaurant
portions at popular prices ... These and
owned by Joe and Lois Sposita, with their
other changes have been availed of ... and
nephew, General Manager John Flynn, it
never deviated from by Joe and Lois.
has grown leaps and bounds in continuous
That Sposita's has survived 15 years is
popularity.
not a miracle ... It is mainly because of
The Italian eatery's beginning reputation what is not used enough in some restau-
may have been told before, but never with
rant operations ... Plain ol' common sense.
READER MINI REVIEW ... "My
the time-honored longevity it has happily
experienced.
companion and I recently visited Rocky's

RESTAURANT

JOIN US FOR NEW YEARS EVE

Featuring Live Music and Belly Dancer!

ADMISSION: $65 per person

INCLUDING:
Appetizers, Soup or Salad
Choice of lamp chops or steak or sea food
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With coupon. Not good with other offers.
Not valid on holidays. Expires 1/31/15.

November 27 • 2014

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Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm
Sunday 12pm-9pm

www.uptownparthenon.com

❑

Danny's email address is
dannyraskin®sbcglobal.net.

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IL CHINESE FOOD • CARRY OUT

OPEN 7 Days a Week

248-538-6000

TOTAL FOOD BILL

Schmidt
GOOD SERVER DEPT. ... Brittany
Pankow at Yardbird Smoked Meats, Keego
Harbor, with the kind of smile that so
many servers should be flashing ... And
so efficient and personable that the former
Ocean Prime server is already being asked
for again and again at the new restaurant.
MAIL DEPT. ... Author, historian "Mr.
Baseball:' etc., Irwin Cohen, embellishes
on the speech by George W. Bush at the
recent annual Yeshiva Beth Yehudah din-
ner ... "Most people don't remember that
the 43rd president was part-owner and
managing general partner of the Texas
Rangers from 1989 until elected governor
of Texas in 1994. More than anything,
he wanted the Rangers to win the World
Series so he could get a World Series
ring. It didn't happen under his watch,
though:'
(Former Yeshiva Beth Yehudah student
Irwin Cohen, who recently received a
Pillars of Excellence Award at the Michigan
Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Induction
Dinner, was the only one attending the
YBY dinner that sported a World Series

ring ... Cohen received his ring when he
worked in the Tigers' front office in 1984.)
OLDIE BUT GOODIE DEPT. ... A
rabbi and a priest get into a car accident
and it's a bad one. Both cars are totally
demolished. Amazingly, neither of the
clerics is hurt.
After they crawl out of their cars, the
rabbi sees the priest's collar and says, "So,
you're a priest. I'm a rabbi. Just look at
our cars. There's nothing left, but we are
unhurt. This must be a sign from God.
God must have meant that we should meet
and live together in peace the rest of our
days:'
The priest replies, "I agree with you
completely. This must be a sign from God:'
The rabbi continues, "And look at
this. Here's another miracle. My car is
completely demolished and this bottle of
Mogen David wine didn't break. Surely
God wants us to drink and celebrate our
good fortune:'
He hands the bottle to the priest. The
priest agrees, takes a few big swigs, hands
the bottle back to the rabbi. The rabbi
takes the bottle, immediately puts the cap
on, and hands it back to the priest.
The priest asks, "Aren't you having any?
"No:' replies the rabbi. "I think I'll wait
for the police:'
CONGRATS ... To Michele Nagle on
her birthday ... To Joe Sposita on his birth-
day ... To Dorothy Chaiken on her 99th
birthday ... To Marilyn Tringale on her
birthday ... To David Barr on his birthday
... To Benjamin Korn on his 90th birthday
... To Sari Cicurel on her birthday ... To
Dennis and Sharon Green on their 13th
anniversary ... To Joe and Lois Sposita on
their 60th anniversary ... To Michael and
Sandy Hermanoff on their 39th anniver-
sary.

$2

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$10 PURCHASE

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Mon-Thur 11 am-10pm I Fri & Sat 11 am-11 pm

Sun Noon-9:30pm

26044 W. 12 Mile Rd. Oak Park location
9 Mile & Coolidge
Southfield, MI 48034
248.352.7511
248.547.4663

$5

OFF

WE DELIVER

4301 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD
WEST BLOOMFIELD • CROSSWINDS PLAZA

10% OFF

of Northville for dinner. We
had not been there in a couple
of years and were pleasantly
surprised by all the changes
and new decor. We split the
Oysters Rockefeller, which we
watched being made at the
raw bar where we were sitting.
We shared an amazing mari-
nated venison steak and Veal
Mezzaluna. Both were remark-
able and large enough that we
took leftovers home.
"Like before, we again found ourselves
indulging in Rocky's warm bread that we
remember. Our server was engaging and
fun, and the meal the best that we have
enjoyed in years. Yet we spent less than
we normally do to dine out:'
Meggie

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OVER $20 PURCHASE 1 I

Limit one Exp. 12.30.14

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$12

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OVER $40 PURCHASE I

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