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Written by Jonathan Partridge | Patterson Irrigator
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
“They just kind of closed and didn’t give us any notice
or anything.”
— Susannah Garner
Former Strings server
Patterson’s only Italian restaurant shut down last week after being open less than nine months.
 NO LONGER OPEN: Strings Italian Cafe closed down abruptly July 2. Servers said that the eatery wasn’t doing well but that an upswing in customers preceded the closure. Photo by Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator
“They just kind of closed and didn’t give us any notice or anything,” said server Susannah Garner, who had worked at the restaurant since it opened in October.
A restaurant manager called employees that day to let them know of the closure. Though business had been slow for some time, Garner said things had appeared to be picking up.
Benny Enwiya, general manager and co-owner of the Patterson franchise, said this week he could not comment on the reason for the closure, because he had not yet talked with his attorney and business partners.
A couple of employees said Al DiCaprio, president of Strings Restaurants Group, decided to close the local franchise. DiCaprio could not be reached for comment this week.
Enwiya said he did not know whether Strings’ corporate owners would try to set up another franchise in the same location, but he said he and his business partners would not.
All the employees had received their final paychecks, he said.
Lezlie Kamerdula, a server at the Patterson restaurant, said she and several others had seen the writing on the wall, citing problems with a new manager.
“I was expecting it (to close), but not so soon,” she said.
She said work had been less fun than when she started, and business generally seemed on the decline, though she, like Garner, had noticed a recent upswing. At times, only one server would be available to handle an entire restaurant of customers, she said.
Sonya Zaragoza, a server who left the restaurant in March after her hours were cut back, speculated that the franchise’s decline may have resulted from economic hardships and poor management. High gas prices and people’s struggles with housing payments meant fewer people were eating out, she said.
She said Enwiya informed employees that the restaurant had lost lots of money.
“He kind of hinted to us that things weren’t going well,” she said.
Zaragoza heard that things went further downhill after Enwiya turned over management duties to his nephew.
Those who worked at other businesses in the Del Lago Plaza building, shared by several restaurants and stores off Rogers Road, last week received news of the shuttering with great shock.
Lacie Maring, a sales clerk at Stewart & Jasper next door to the restaurant, said she had wondered what was going on after she noticed people walking up to the restaurant July 2 and then turning away. She had considered eating dinner there the day it closed and expressed disappointment about the closure.
Zaragoza also shared her sorrow about the closure, saying she had enjoyed meeting local residents and out-of-towners alike while she worked there and that she liked her coworkers and manager.
“I loved it,” she said. “I had a blast.”
To reach Jonathan Partridge at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at
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Im sure many will say good didn't like all the growth anyways but the sad thing is they take tax revenues with them and leave their money woes here.
Affordable housing + decent wages + places to spend local dollars on local business = thriving town. Patterson has been set up to fail by too many houses, no shopping ,not even a favorable enviroment to start a business up to create jobs.
Patterson once was the 3rd fastest growing place to live now it is 2nd in foreclosures to Stockton.Patterson grew too fast in the wrong direction.We needed jobs 1st then offer a place to live at a fair price.
How is it we have a kohls distribution plant but no kohls to shop at???? People would have came from other towns too shop at Kohls. They would have bought gas,ate at resturants, maybe did some grocery shopping.
a*s backwards are my thoughts.
So many homes should have never got the green light without other factors in place. Suggestion for a retail business the city should seek out Frys Electronics.People would come for miles Frys sells not only office stuff, but movies, music, tv's, large and small house appliances,toys,beauty items. It would provide numerous jobs I figure if Lathrop can get a Super Target Patterson can get something along those lines as well.The nearest Fry's are in Rosevile,Sac and Fremont.
I know it is up to the company but our city needs to be thinking outside of the box. I hope house values continue to slide down so that people who want to live here and were shut out by the housing boom can finally afford to buy. Getting folks in homes brings the city tax dollars and keeps the town from the fate of Western Ranch.