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SCOTLAND NECK — It was coincidence that Luigi Cavalieri signed the papers of his restaurant on Valentine’s Day, 2001.
Nevertheless, it began a love affair with the Scotland Neck community, which was reciprocated by many loyal customers.
Now Cavalieri and his wife Monica look to rekindle that affair after fire swept through his and two other businesses on the town’s Main Street the morning of Jan. 17.
“I’m dealing with reality of a fire,” he said Friday. “It’s been kind of rough.”
Throughout the Scotland Neck community, however, there is a desire to see the Cavalieris reopen the restaurant, a desire evidenced by a fundraiser last week in which 300 plates were sold for the Luigi Fund, which is being administered by Southern Bank. “Everybody has been so gracious,” he said.
While they are going to rebuild and most likely name the restaurant Cavalieri’s, it appears the costs of renovating the circa 1882 building are going to be too prohibitive so he will most likely look at another building in the town, which has become like a second home to himself and his wife. “We would like to be up in six months if not sooner,” Cavalieri said.
The restaurant, which opened in April of 2001, gained a loyal following, Cavalieri said, explaining that within a year sales were over what he and Monica, who managed the everyday operations of the business, projected in a three-year projection in their business plan. It was a meeting place where people would come to talk and dine on authentic Sicilian recipes. “We hate to see old buildings torn down,” he said. “We’re going to miss it.”
As the Cavalieris plan to rebuild, Gene Braddy of the patriotic organization Junior Order of United American Mechanics is waiting word from insurance adjusters. “We have no immediate plans,” he said Friday. “Plans are in limbo.”
The Junior Order building used to be home to another iconic restaurant in town, the Idle Hour, and another building, the old Nationwide building, which had been condemned, was also declared a total loss.
“We hate what happened to the other buildings,” said Cavalieri who, along with is wife, are members of the Junior Order. “We’re sympathetic with the owners of the other buildings.”
Scotland Neck Volunteer Fire Chief Patrick Staton said an estimated $675,000 in damages was caused by the fire, which started in Luigi’s.
Foul play was ruled out by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the State Bureau of Investigation. Staton said it is believed the fire was started by an electrical malfunction in the restaurant.
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