Columbia Italian restaurant celebrates 75 years in business

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — People have been coming to a little Italian restaurant in downtown Columbia for 75 years. Villa Tronco first opened in 1940 by Sadie Tronco, a Sicilian. Four generations gathered at the restaurant Monday, to celebrate what she started so many years ago. “She was just a determined woman that she was gonna make it for her family, and she did, and that’s what got us here today,” Sadie’s granddaughter, Carmella Roche said. The story goes before Villa Tronco, there was no pizza in Columbia. The restaurant has relied on more than just its food to keep people coming back again and again. “The food wouldn’t taste near as good if it wasn’t for the family,” customer and family friend John Wayne Parrish, Jr., says. Figures such as Mickey Rooney and Andy Williams have sat at the restaurant’s tables. Monday, Columbia City Councilman Moe Baddourah made a special appearance. He presented the family with a key to the city. “I think when you talk about Columbia, and Main Street and downtown, we go right along with that,” Carmella says. So what’s the secret to their success? Fourth generation family member Bonner Roche says it’s very simple. “We’ve pretty much had a family member open and close that door every day,” Bonner says. “So we’re always here.” The restaurant’s future success depends on the family’s youngest members, but that shouldn’t be too tricky. “They usually ask for me when they come in,” 10-year-old Tripp Roche says. “They say, ‘is Tripp here?'” Tripp says it’s his goal to take over the business in the future. He’s already bussing tables and hosting.