Smitty’s Restaurant Opens Friday in South Renovo
By Kevin Rauch
SOUTH RENOVO – Western Clinton County’s newest business is set to open this Friday, as “Smitty’s Restaurant” will open its doors Friday afternoon after months of planning and prepping for the grand opening. Although the restaurant is new its owners are anything but to the area as Carl and Jamie Smith have both worked in the public all of their adult lives, Carl having worked his way up from dishwasher to cook in area restaurants while Jamie is always a smiling and informative presence at First Commonwealth Bank.
Smitty’s is located in South Renovo at the former site of “Lisa’s”, where another husband and wife team of Lisa and Jack Houser had operated for over a decade. The baby-boomer generation of the greater Renovo area still have fond memories of the site being owned and operated by “Pinky” Reardon for many decades.
Carl and Jamie’s love of the Renovo area led them to always wanting to own a business of some type and it was after they took their son Bentley to feed the deer down by the Bucktail Medical Center last winter that they saw that Lisa’s was closing and the place was for sale.
A veteran of restaurants at this point in his life, when Jamie brought it up Carl’s eyes widened at the hard work it would take. Jamie had a secret weapon though when pitching her case to her husband.
“I said to him, ‘the only way that we are opening a restaurant is if John jumps on board’” Jamie said sitting in the restaurant Monday evening, a few days before their opening.
‘John’ was a reference to John Lullo, who is not only their brother in law and Carl’s best friend, but he himself has dedicated his life to cooking, working at numerous restaurants in the State College area. John and Carl got started as young teenagers at the Sportsman’s Hotel before both made their way to the Kettle Creek Inn as young adults; Carl is still there to this day.
Together Carl and John have a combined 40 plus years in the restaurant business.
Once John agreed to assist, the Smith’s made a handshake deal in spring to buy the business and house from the Houser’s. Rather quickly things started to take shape, even though their weekends were kept busy with Bentley and his baseball games.
The Smiths received tons of help from family and friends throughout the process. When it came time for the menu, they knew exactly what they wanted.
“We wanted things that other places around here don’t offer, I’ve said that we want the Lock Haven area options with Renovo pricing, and that’s what we aimed for” Jamie explained. Bruschetta and pretzel buns can be found throughout the menu but its Carl and John’s experience that will truly make Smitty’s unique.
As too will the décor.
Carl has been a volunteer at the Renovo Fire Department Station #29 since he was a teenager and currently serves as the Rescue Captain. Jamie followed her husband’s volunteerism and serves as the EMS Treasurer at Station #29.
With a shared love of fire companies, the design took place with one of the things that they know and appreciate the best.
The husband and wife reached out to their own Station as well other local stations, asking if they had anything that they felt the public would appreciate on display. The departments did not disappoint.
The walls of the restaurant offer displays from current pictures to high value historical pieces of apparatus, a tribute to every type of rescue personnel. A flashing red rescue light will be turned on when orders are up and ready to be served, while a fire hose wraps around the length of the dining room on the wall in place of trim.
Rescue personnel will be encouraged to sign the hose and name their station, with hopes that they receive visitors from both near and far.
“Were hoping that the displays become so successful that we end up rotating our décor and swapping out displays, we’d love to have things from all of the country, not necessarily just local departments, rescue personnel are such an important and needed asset in every community, we’d like to thank them all” Jamie said.
In fact, the menu and fireman theme meet in combination on the menu as they offer items such the Green Machine (shredded beef on a pretzel bun with provolone, red onion, tomato and pesto aioli) and Bucktail Delight ( grilled or battered chicken on a Bruschetta bun with red onion, arugula, tomato, mayo- can be made BBQ or Buffalo).
The Smith’s could not be more thankful for the support that they have received, beyond their inner circle.
“I’ve seen it at the bank, but to be on the receiving end is just so amazing” Jamie offered of the assistance of a still close-knit community. “Even some of the other restaurants and businesses, everyone has been so kind and helpful, we have really been lucky”. Carl is returning the favor, still staying on a day a week at the Rosebriar Inn on Kettle Creek.
Smitty’s will be open Fridays through Monday’s, with the grand opening this Friday at 3:00PM. Special dedications to the local fire companies will be occurring and the young customers won’t go away empty handed.
