Walt and Lesa Parent retire from longtime family business on Old Forge’s Main Street
Dave Aliasso and Lesa Parent at Walt's Diner in Old Forge. Photo by Carol Hansen
Effective December 1, Dave Aliasso of Old Forge became the new owner of Walt’s Diner, a popular Main Street eatery which has been operated by the Parent family for the last 18 years.
Husband and wife team Walt and Lesa Parent ran the diner together up until two years ago when Walt retired to pursue his passion for tree work and began operation of Walt Parent and Sons Tree Service.
Lesa continued to manage the restaurant and was responsible for the cooking and baking, but admitted it was getting a little tough without her partner.
So, last summer she began looking for a buyer. She found the perfect choice with Aliasso.
“Dave cooked for us when he first moved to Old Forge in 2000 and we trust him wholeheartedly to do a great job,” Lesa said.
“I would never walk away from the restaurant if I thought he wouldn’t be successful. He’s a hard worker and I know it will be in good hands,” she added. Aliasso, former owner of Aliasso’s Italian Deli in Old Forge, said he did a lot of catering when he operated the deli, and will incorporate the service at the diner as well.
His brother John, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, will be moving to the area and will assist with the catering aspects of the business.
Aliasso said he is very excited about taking over the diner, but no, he doesn’t plan on changing its name, or the menu either.
“I don’t see a need to change anything. Lesa and Walt have been great about everything to make sure that I succeed. Without their encouragement it would be twice as hard, so I can’t say enough about what they’ve done for me,” Aliasso said. After so many years, Lesa’s departure from the diner will be bittersweet.
“My children were raised here and there are a lot of memories. I’m especially going to miss all my customers and all the great people I have met over the years. But 18 years is a long time and my family is ready for me to be done,” she said.
In the past years, the Parent family-owned enterprises have expanded with the Tree Service, Old Forge Liquors, and the newly- opened Trackside Garage in Thendara, which is operated by son Ronnie, and brother-in-law Mike Levensailor.
So it appears that Lesa will still have plenty to keep her busy.
“I’ll still run Old Forge Liquors and do the bookkeeping for Walt’s business and the garage. And believe it or not, this winter I’m going to be driving a dump truck and delivering firewood four days a week. The rest of the time I’m going to be a grandmother and enjoy my grandchildren. That’s the plan. It’s going to be a big change, but change is good,” she said.
