Charlotte-area family restaurant permanently closes its doors after 50 years
For half a century, a tiny red building of brick and painted wood, home to Villa Roma restaurant, fed the hearts, souls and bellies of families in the Gastonia area.
But all that’s left after 50 years is a “thank you” sign outside of the dark and empty building. The family-owned business has closed its doors for good after the death of its owner.
“Closed. Thank you for allowing us to serve you for the past 50 years,” states the yellow roadside message board outside the neighborhood restaurant. The marquee sign is alone in the large parking lot that once held scores of cars belonging to local families, perhaps here for a Friday or Saturday supper.
A “now hiring” sign still hangs in one window, while another closed sign, this one hanging inside the front door, promises a return: “Please call again.”
Benches around the building are covered in advertising: for a real estate agent, a dumpster rental company, a crawlspace work provider, a collision repair service. But no one is outside to read the bench ads while waiting for their table to be ready.
As first reported by Gaston Gazette, the Italian restaurant closed following the passing of the most recent operator, 57-year-old Dennis Fascella Jr., who died last month.
According to the local outlet, the Fascella family made their mark serving up authentic Italian cuisine back in the 70s when Villa Roma was built and opened by his father, Dennis Fascella Sr., alongside Angelo Fascella.
Since then, it stood the test of time as a growing fixture in Gastonia’s food scene and for their family for years to come. “He was the owner and operator of Villa Roma for 25 years, and he truly loved his customers,” Dennis Fascella Jr.’s obituary states.
“If there was one thing that motivated him to continue to dedicate his life to that place, it was the people that came in here,” his son, Sam Fascella, told Gaston Gazette. “He always wanted to make people feel welcome.”
From all of the online condolences written by customers on Withers & Whisenant Funeral Home’s website, it’s evident just how true that is and how much of a long-lasting impact he had on those who stepped in for a bite of Villa Roma’s take on pasta, pizza and other Italian classics.
Among the many heartfelt messages posted, one from Chris Ross reads:
“Our family has many fond memories of our frequent pilgrimages from Charlotte to Villa Roma since 1996. I was proud to call Dennis a friend. My three boys grew up going there and it remained a family favorite with us making a trip there for dinner when the boys were home for Christmas. I will miss Dennis’s smile, our chats about our children and life. I will miss the great food and the wonderful staff that some now parents we knew as teenagers. Thank you Dennis and the Villa Roma family for the wonderful memories.”
This story was originally published February 21, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Charlotte-area family restaurant permanently closes its doors after 50 years."
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