Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
Although technically retired for four years, Michael Cassio has reached another milestone as his Italian restaurant comes under new ownership.
Asked why he was retiring, Cassio gave a simple answer.
“I’m 82. That’s a good reason.”
Cassio’s wife Anna will help out the new owners for the summer to ensure a smooth transition.
Suhas and Pravila Sawant, who also own Jasper’s Wafflato, are expected to continue serving the same renowned cuisine offered since Cassio’s Italian Restaurant opened in 2009.
Cassio came to Jasper in 1992 and ran the Sawridge Inn for 14 years.
He later got into the coffee business, occupying the space where the Sunhouse Café currently resides and taking over the Starbucks at Marmot Basin.
The opportunity to get into the Italian restaurant came by way of friendship with the old owners.
“With a lot of hard work and a lot of good staff and a lot of support from our friends and locals, we did okay,” Cassio said.
The restaurant uses the same logo and many of the recipes created by the original Cassio family restaurant, dating back to 1947 in Sudbury, Ont.
Cassio’s parents started the original restaurant and he was there until 1975. His sisters ran the restaurant for a time but eventually sold it.
Like the original, Cassio’s Italian Restaurant serves Italian cuisine prepared from old family recipes, with fresh ingredients and distinct flavours.
“We’re lucky to have a lot of good Italian women working for us, and so we have a combination of what we did and what they did; we put the package together,” Cassio said.
Cassio’s also services the Whistle Stop Pub, which is part of the contract that goes with the rental of the space.
After a fishing trip on Maligne Lake, Cassio will fly out east to see his relatives with one of his children getting remarried.
Cassio emphasized they always worked well with other restaurants.
“You can’t afford not to when you’re in a small community. Too much happens, and we’re dependent on the revenue being brought in,” he said.
“You’re working, you run out of something or whatever, you have to work, somebody needs a hand putting on a big function and needs some help, so everybody pitches, and it’s been good.
“Great Greek community in this town. They more or less built the restaurant business in this town, fellas like us and Alex [Balomenos] at Something Else. If it wasn’t for them, things would be a lot different in Jasper.”
When asked what he liked about Jasper the most, Cassio had yet another matter-of-fact reply.
“Just look outside every morning. You don’t have to ask the question. Just look outside, and it’s the people that make it up and make it all work.”
Cassio finished by thanking his staff, locals and regular customers.
“And thank God I’m still alive at 82.”
Editor's note: The story was updated to clarify that Cassio was acknowledging the Greek community for helping build the restaurant business in town.
