EVERETT – One landmark restaurant will replace another in downtown Everett in the near future, as Cajun-inspired Alligator Soul will move into the space left behind by Petosa’s on Broadway.
Petosa’s, at 3121 Broadway, is closing for the last time with a big sendoff Friday night.
The last of several restaurants operated under the Petosa’s name during the past four decades, the Everett one has been at the same location for more than 20 years.
“I’ll miss parts of it. We’ve grown up in this, and I think we’re all ready for a change,” said John Petosa Jr., who ran the family’s Lynnwood restaurant before taking over the Everett location in recent years.
Petosa’s closing, however, represents a growth opportunity for Alligator Soul, which has been serving up gumbo and other New Orleans-style specialties since 1995. Ryan Sturm, co-owner and chef at Alligator Soul, said he can use a bigger space.
“We’re not trying to grow a lot bigger,” Sturm said, but without any waiting area or bar, Alligator Soul frequently has to turn away diners during the evening rush. The restaurant also has limited parking, a problem exacerbated by its location across from the Everett Events Center.
The Petosa’s building will allow for the addition of a bar and it has a large parking lot. With the added space, Alligator could be open more hours all seven days a week, Sturm said. Plus, it’s a newer building.
“There are a lot of reasons to do it. As much as I love this old building, it’s over 100 years old. There’s a lot of duct tape and pinwheels holding it together,” he added.
Launched by transplanted Southerner Hillary “Hilbo” Craig, Alligator Soul was bought the next year by Craig’s brother-in-law, Rob Siegel, and Sturm. More than a decade later, it’s still going strong, having just finished a record-breaking month, Sturm said.
Longtime fans of Petosa’s fondly remember John Sr. and Narice Petosa, who first owned a restaurant along Highway 99 near Lynnwood, and the family members who came after them. Of the 10 Petosa siblings, nine went into the food service industry. The extended family spawned more than a dozen restaurants and grocery stores across Snohomish County.
In its heyday, Petosa’s on Broadway featured live music nearly every night. It was known as a place for a good bowl of clam chowder, a burger or just a cup of coffee.
“They knew exactly how to do things,” said Ron Bodey of Everett, who’s been coming to the restaurant since 1960, years before the Petosa’s took over. “Friday’s going to be a sad day.”
On the other hand, he said Alligator Soul should be able to succeed at the location.
After Petosa’s closes with one last Friday night of live music, renovation work will begin on the building. Sturm estimated Alligator Soul could be moved in this fall or winter.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
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