KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Long-time Kalamazoo restaurant Papa’s Italian Sausage will be celebrating 35 years of business Thursday night with a special appearance at the Kalamazoo Farmers Night Market.
Since the mid-80’s, Papa’s has served Italian food to the Kalamazoo community through food trucks and its store on King Highway.
“It feels great,” owner Carl Rizzuto said of the anniversary. “I’ve been fortunate, of course like any business you have your ups and downs, but I’ve had a lot of support from family.”
The Farmers Market event will feature live performances, plus food available from other area vendors.
“We are having seven food trucks,” Rizzuto said. “We are having entertainment, we have a couple bands, we have three different kinds of Bell’s beer and wine. It’s not only a celebration of Papa’s, throughout my career we’ve done a lot of outdoor events…so it’s a celebration of the food truck, the street food scene of Kalamazoo also. The people that I’ve invited to be food vendors are all part of my career.”
Other food trucks at the celebration will include Big Moe’s BBQ and Gorilla Gourmet.
The event will take place from 6 to 10 PM Thursday night at the pavilion on Bank Street.
