August 29, 2024
Lady Lake’s Historic Mom & Dad’s Restaurant To Reopen As Lady Lake Pizza And Pasta
By Kyle Coppola
Lady Lake’s Historic Mom & Dad’s Restaurant To Reopen As Lady Lake Pizza And Pasta
LADY LAKE, Fla. (AP) — The historic Mom & Dad’s Restaurant in Lady Lake, a beloved local eatery that had been around for over 60 years and closed its doors earlier this year, is set to reopen under new ownership. Kareem El Shimy, a local entrepreneur and restaurant manager at La Famiglia Italiana in Sanford, Florida has acquired the property and plans to reopen it as Lady Lake Pizza and Pasta.
(The most recent design of Mom & Dad’s up until its closing a few months ago. The restaurant served the community for over 60 years and will continue once more under new ownership.)
El Shimy, is a graduate of University of Central Florida and has a passion for Italian cuisine. He is overseeing a comprehensive renovation of the building’s interior to reflect the new restaurant’s theme. New signage for Lady Lake Pizza and Pasta is expected to be in place soon.
Town of Lady Lake Growth Management Director Thad Carroll confirmed the new restaurant is in the works. “Our permit data indicates it will be Lady Lake Pizza and Pasta. Our department does not have any knowledge of when they anticipate opening.” says Carroll.
(Work is currently being doing on the interior and exterior. An opening date has not been announced as of yet.)
For decades, Mom & Dad’s Restaurant was a staple in the Lady Lake community, known for its homestyle meals and welcoming atmosphere. Its closure left a void for many residents who had cherished the restaurant’s role. From date nights to proposals, family gatherings and more, if the walls of the former Mom & Dad’s restaurant could talk they would tell an amazing story.
The history of the building is important to Lady Lake. It’s one of the oldest restaurants in the town dating back to the 1960s.
The reopening under El Shimy’s ownership ensures that the building remains locally owned, a point of pride for Lady Lake residents who have seen the restaurant evolve over the years. The new restaurant is anticipated to open later this year, offering a menu centered around pizza and pasta dishes, with a nod to the community’s love for classic, comforting meals.
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
