Despite a new chapter, closing is not easy

As La Viola owner Lino Viola sat at a table by the window in the restaurant that he and his wife, Elsa, who died on New Year’s Day, owned for the past 35 years, he fought back tears as he tried to explain why the restaurant is no longer in operation.

“The neighborhood has changed, and the economy isn’t doing great, either,” he said. “Also, a lot of our customers have moved away. It’s not their fault and it’s not our fault, but it’s reality.”

In June 1977, the Violas opened a continental restaurant before transitioning into Italian cuisine. A fire destroyed their location at 571 Chestnut St. in Cedarhurst.

La Viola then moved to 499 Chestnut St., directly across from the Cedarhurst train station, where he remained until the restaurant shut its doors on Aug. 14.

The Violas’ children, Paulette, 29, Filippo, 28, and Rita, 25, grew up in La Viola and started helping out there at age 11. “It’s something I’ve come to love, and I hope to follow in my dad’s footsteps,” Paulette said.

In the next few years, Lino plans to open a bistro in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. “Young people don’t want to spend a lot of money on food,” he said. “We’ll still feature good food, but more contemporary style.”

Rita, a Queens resident, is hopeful about the new bistro. “It’s sad, but after so many years of struggling, a new chapter has to begin,” she said. “And this new one will be great.” Paulette and Rita are expected to be involved in the new eatery.

Though Lino is looking forward to his new establishment, he said he will miss the patrons who once flocked to his Cedarhurst restaurant. “It’s not just a business,” he said. “I’ll miss my customers and their warmth.”

Paulette and Rita said that many La Viola customers have become family over the years. “They have a love for our father and for us,” Paulette said. “It’s nice to have that sense of closeness and be around people who have seen us grow up.”

John McCabe, a lifelong Cedarhurst resident who has been dining at La Viola for 30 years, said the staff is excellent, as is the variety of food. “It’s a sad thing,” he said of the closing. “It’s our neighborhood restaurant.”

Cedarhurst Mayor Andrew Parise said that Viola is a great guy and is well respected in the community. “We’ve been friends for years and this is a great loss to Cedarhurst; it’s a landmark,” Parise said. “[Viola] is a warm person, and not only was he in business, but he always had the community at heart.”

Before beginning to plan for his next eatery, Lino said, he would spend time with his family. “I’m going to take time off to recharge my battery,” he said. “I hope my customers know the love that I feel for this place and the sorrow I feel too.”

“It’s time for us to change,” Paulette added. “We can’t help the economy or the neighborhood, but in time, everything comes to an end.”