Written by 
Armondo Pavone at Renton River Days
Add me to the list of those grieving the news that Armondo’s is closing.
I’ve enjoyed countless excellent meals at Armondo’s restaurant over the last twenty-five years, first at the location on 3rd street as the restaurant grew, and then at it’s present expanded location on Wells.
Armondo Pavone is one of Renton’s premier restauranteurs and business leaders, and he will still have a strong presence in our city. As part owner of the Melrose, he is still managing one of our finest restaurants. He’s also very involved in the community in many other ways, so we’ll continue to see him around town. And he’s still young, with a lot of years in front of him to start new ventures. Still, the loss of the Italian restaurant that bears his name in our downtown will keep many of us in the doldrums for a while
I wish him all the best. Part of me wants to beg Armondo to reconsider; at the same time, I respect him so much I don’t wish to lay a guilt trip on him. He’s brightened our downtown for 25 years with his Italian restaurant, and helped us all by doing so– it’s more than we could demand of anybody.
My uncle, who moved to Renton from Wichita twenty years ago, sent me a note last night reminding me that I had taken him to Armondo’s during one of his visits before he moved here. (I knew at the time, when I was in my twenties, that the new Armondo’s restaurant was one of Renton’s best.
Here is my Uncle’s note:
“The news from Armondo is sad. I remember the year before we moved here, you took me to lunch at Armondo’s. Since we’ve been here it has been a favorite place of ours. I hope he does something wonderful with the property (maybe a Melrose II?).”
Armondo’s familiar sign. The business is open through Father’s Day, so be sure to stop in for a farewell dinner and drinks before it closes.
Armondo will keep busy with the popular “Melrose Grill,” across the street from Armondo’s on Wells Ave South.
We also had the story on renton patch.
Thank god for Renton Patch. I’m leery of Dean’s out-of-town lazy journalism.
I just found out that during the last election, Dean endorsed one school-board candidate without even contacting the other candidate, even though the person had a lot to offer.
The Renton Reporter is the cities newsletter. Dean cannot come out against someone he is still paying monthly payments for the newspaper. I’m thankful we are searching for a new home in Seattle. Cannot take Renton anymore. We used to volunteer all the time ‘to improve our city’, while our city is busy tearing down the people and our lifestyle.