Arthur Treacher's fans celebrate retired owner of nostalgic State Road restaurant

Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal
·3 min read
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Maridsa and her husband Ben Vittoria, who's retiring from Arthur Treacher's after working for the company for 47 years, talks with Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters at Vittoria's retirement party at the restaurant on Friday, April 19, 2024. Vittoria owned the State Road location since 1988 and worked for Arthur Treacher's in other states before that. Vittoria has sold the Falls restaurant, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, to developer George Simon.

After 36 years owning Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips in Cuyahoga Falls, Ben Vittoria of Sharon Township has retired and sold the beloved restaurant to George Simon.

Vittoria, 69, officially stepped down from owning his last Arthur Treacher's at 1833 State Road in early April. Now, real estate developer Simon is the owner of the last two free-standing Arthur Treacher's locations in the nation, including the Garfield Heights restaurant that he reopened in February 2023.

He purchased the Garfield Heights property from Vittoria for its land in 2021, after Vittoria had closed the restaurant. But Simon was so impressed by the loyal customer following at Vittoria's Cuyahoga Falls restaurant, he decided to reopen the Cleveland-area Arthur Treacher's last year.

The Falls restaurant, which features an iconic yellow and green lantern sign, for years has drawn customers from other states for a taste of nostalgia — namely the battered Alaskan pollock fish or chicken served with chips or fries.

Employees, former employees, customers and city officials celebrated Vittoria's retirement at a surprise party Friday night at the Falls eatery. Vittoria and his wife, Maridsa, were the guests of honor as more than 100 people, including Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters, celebrated them.

Vittoria spent nearly 50 years as 'the original fish fryer'

Ben Vittoria, "the original fish fryer" and owner of the last free-standing Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips in the nation, serves up freshly fried fish at his restaurant on State Road in Cuyahoga Falls in 2022. Vittoria retired in early April.
Ben Vittoria, "the original fish fryer" and owner of the last free-standing Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips in the nation, serves up freshly fried fish at his restaurant on State Road in Cuyahoga Falls in 2022. Vittoria retired in early April.

Vittoria rose up through the Arthur Treacher's ranks beginning in 1977 with the large franchise Summit Foods, starting as a manager trainee in Connecticut. At one point, he owned 16 franchise locations.

During his 47-year Arthur Treacher's career, he earned the nickname "the original fish fryer."

Vittoria said he was happy to see a number of young children celebrating Friday with their families at the State Road restaurant.

"Over the years, that's one of the things we tried to build on, was trying to bring not only the older clientele but trying to bring a new generation," he said.

The Falls restaurant, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, opened in 1972. Vittoria purchased it in 1988, when it was located a block north of the current eatery. In 2005, he moved the restaurant to its current address, a former Wendy's restaurant that he rehabbed.

Vittoria's retirement plans

For now, Vittoria plans to relax after just retiring. He's an old car lover who also plans to continue working on his 1986 Jaguar XJ6, which appeared in the 1980s TV show "The Equalizer."

In September, he and his wife will travel to Italy for three weeks, including to Sicily, where he was born.

A retirement party for Ben Vittoria Friday April 19, 2024, who retired from Arthur Treacher's after working for the company for 47 years, included a cake at the Cuyahoga Falls restaurant.
A retirement party for Ben Vittoria Friday April 19, 2024, who retired from Arthur Treacher's after working for the company for 47 years, included a cake at the Cuyahoga Falls restaurant.

New owner plans to open more Arthur Treacher's locations

Selling the Falls restaurant to Simon made perfect sense, Vittoria said.

"It was the most logical decision. Once he bought the first property (in Garfield Heights), I think his interest was from the very beginning to restart Arthur Treacher's in Northeast Ohio," the retired restaurateur said of Simon.

Brecksville resident Simon said he and Vittoria have become very good friends.

"He was mentoring me in the Arthur Treacher's way and then it became kind of natural, like, 'Hey, how about you take this one over?'" Simon said of purchasing the Falls restaurant.

Christian Burden, general manager at Arthur Treacher's, talks about Ben Vittoria and his wife, Maridsa, at Vittoria's retirement party on Friday, April 19, 2024, in Cuyahoga Falls. Vittoria is retiring from Arthur Treacher's after working for the company for 47 years.
Christian Burden, general manager at Arthur Treacher's, talks about Ben Vittoria and his wife, Maridsa, at Vittoria's retirement party on Friday, April 19, 2024, in Cuyahoga Falls. Vittoria is retiring from Arthur Treacher's after working for the company for 47 years.

He plans to update the Falls location's point-of-sale system, bring in more energy-efficient equipment and remove carpeted areas to create all hard-surface flooring. Regardless, Simon plans to keep the restaurant's "nostalgic flavor."

As he continues to revive the Arthur Treacher's brand, Simon also expects to announce within 90 days his third free-standing Arthur Treacher's location in Northeast Ohio.

"You have to have three, four, five locations to bring in enough revenue so you can have the operations director help you grow your brand," Simon said.

TruFoods holds the franchise rights for Arthur Treacher's in Ohio and beyond. The Arthur Treacher's chain was founded in Columbus in 1969.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cuyahoga Falls Arthur Treacher's owner sells after retiring this month