Reader: Gaetano's needs to keep the old Italian charm

For more than sixty years, Gaetano's has been a northside institution -- first as a joint owned by the Smaldones, Denver's legendary mob family, and then by the Wynkoop group, which bought the place in 2005. Now the spot is closed until September for a major facelift, which has both...

By Patricia Calhoun

July 9, 2012

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For more than sixty years, Gaetano's has been a northside institution -- first as a joint owned by the Smaldones, Denver's legendary mob family, and then by the Wynkoop group, which bought the place in 2005. Now the spot is closed until September for a major facelift, which has both detractors and proponents. Chef Chris Cina explains the project with this: "Everyone can crow about how much the history of Gaetano's means to them, yet they haven't patronized us enough over the last eight years to keep us out of the red."

Says bombdotcom2012:

FINE: Do the remodel PLEASE...keep that old Italian charm that kept people going back for all of these years.Some of us actually appreciate red vinyl and bad art on the walls. If they manage to "update" the place, without making it look like every other mediocre Italian joint, then maybe they will achieve a nice result. I wish BW luck with the project. Hope it doesn't bite ya in the arse.

When was the last time you ate at Gaetano's? What would you keep -- or change? Post your thoughts below, or join the conversation already under way here.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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