By Angela Marshall
The restaurant became a community landmark and regulars like the Basiles, John Misak, Tom and Lori Healy and the dozens of other couples crowded into Donato's Monday night made the business a success. The started coming for the food and continued coming for the food, as one customer put it, but also developed a love for the owner.
Although the crowd gathered to celebrate the restaurant's 25th anniversary Monday, the evening was bittersweet. After more than two decades of working nights, weekends and holidays, Balsamo announced that he had sold the business, name, menu, recipes and all. By Thursday Donato's will be under new management.
Balsamo became choked up just speaking about the conversation he had with Bob Peterson and his other employees to let them know. "I couldn't finish saying what I had to say without drinking some vodka," he said, recalling how nervous he was. "It felt like I'm leaving a part of my family."
Balsamo was looking for a career when he purchased Lenny's. And there were plenty of times during the early days when he wondered if he had bitten off more than he could chew.
He said it was the instant gratification of watching people laughing and eating that made him stick with the business.
Michael and his older brother, Donato, named after his grandfather just like the restaurant, grew up and began busing tables. Donato went on to medical school. He's now a doctor. But Michael followed in his father's footsteps, becoming manager and a partner in the restaurant in 1995.
It wasn't always easy. Michael was eager to try out new ideas. His father wanted to stick to tried and true methods. They learned to compromise.
"It brought us closer together," Balsamo said. "I couldn't ask for anything more."
After years of rejecting offers for the business, Balsamo decided it was time to retire. He and his wife, Linda, want to visit some relatives, spend time with their grandsons, Christopher and Anthony, and to play some more golf.
Michael has started a new job for a corporate food business.
As for the regular customers, they're trying to think positively. It's not easy. After all, they don't just come for the food. Tom Healy said he goes to the restaurant anytime he wants to talk sports, often staying till closing.
Al and Mary Ann Basile said they are pleased the new managers are going to continue featuring the same Southern Italian menu. The couple plans to keep up their traditional visits.
But, they said, "We're going to miss them -- miss the family."
