Update: According to Peter Levy from Chow Foods, the new restaurant will be named Valentinetti’s.
“I’ve had a love of Italian cuisine forever, and given the chance to honor my wife Betty’s godmother, Aurora Valentinetti, with a new restaurant offering traditional Italian cuisine—it brings it all home for us,” Levy said in a statement.
The new restaurant will serve classic Italian fare — pizzas and pastas, with gluten-free and vegan options — and will also feature puppetry shows.
Aurora Valentinetti, now 99, was a University of Washington professor who taught puppetry courses, and even has a puppet museum named for her in Bremerton which carries on the legacy of her career.
“The forthcoming Italian restaurant will showcase the unfussy, home-cooked Italian food for which she is also beloved.”
Original: After 15 years, The Hi-Life restaurant has announced they’ll be closing, with plans to reopen as an Italian restaurant.
Hi-Life manager Ben Dille tells My Ballard that the owners, Chow Foods, have decided to go in a different direction, to “keep up with the changing pace of Ballard,” he says.
Dille says their last day of business will likely be September 8th, but says that could change depending on staffing. They expect to be closed at least five weeks — Dille wasn’t sure they’ll be able to retain their staff during the closure and substantial remodel.
The Italian restaurant is expected to open in October — we’ll keep you updated.
Cultural appropriation!!! OMG