Reader Christine writes in to let us know that Rocco's Calamari of Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn has closed abruptly after 35 years in business.
photo via Eating in Translation
"This was my husband's childhood hangout every Saturday afternoon," writes Christine. "The Fried Calamari was to die for, fried zucchini was one of my favorites. Great home-cooked style meals at a great price. Freshly made everyday... Just a tremendous loss for everyone."
The closure was sudden and unannounced, leaving customers reeling. After celebrating their 35th anniversary on July 9, on their Facebook page they wrote, "Rocco's will be closed for vacation from July 31st to August 8th. We will reopen Tuesday, August 9th!" But they did not reopen.
A second Facebook notice reads: "After 35 years of serving the community, we are 'hanging up our hats!' We would like to thank our wonderful staff and loyal customers for their patronage. It has been an honor and pleasure in serving you ALL! #retirement."
I never got to try Rocco's, so here's Brooklyn Butch with his take on the place, complete with the theme from The Godfather:
They are retiring and in many ways going out on top, building and lot they owned sold to man who owns rest of block...
ReplyDeleteThis restaurant was a powerhouse from the 80s through the early 2000s....
ReplyDeleteAs a neighborhood tradesman I would eat takeout lunch from this place almost everyday in the late 90s and the place was always MOBBED at lunchtime...Many workers from Maimonides hospital sitting at tables...
The owner (Rocco)'s brother in law (also Rocco) cloned this restaurant and opened a twin copycat restaurant on the corner of Bath and 18th ave which was also kicking ass in the late 90's...
The cloned restaurant closed 2 years ago which was not a good auger for the longevity of this original Rocco's on Ft Hamilton Pkway....
I stopped going to Rocco's regularly in the early 2000s mostly because a schedule change but I still went occasionally...The last time I was there was 2 years ago...at lunchtime...I was SHOCKED to see how slow business was....(sadly the food I was served was somehow off from 15 years earlier...The once great marinara sauce they served with their signature fried calamari now had the consistency of watered down ketchup...)...
Rocco was a very nice owner and ran this restaurant with an iron fist...His longtime employees were very nice Bay Ridge people...(Like Claire,Lisa, Maurice, Rocco's sister...Etc...)...
So Long Rocco...You had a great restaurant and employed a lot of nice people....