I am always sad to see a business close. That said the last couple times I had visited Mozittis you could tell things were slipping. The food had changed. They were often out of things when they shouldnt be. It is sad that they left the staff hanging. It is sad that they left all the businesses and people hanging that had extended them credit in good faith.
If the food hadn't changed I think people would have continued to eat there. I don't think you can call the restauant successfull, especially when they are closing.
The service was great.
One of the last big things Moz did was cater the Prariefest party. I thought at the time what an odd pairing to have an Italian Eatery cater a Nawlins themed event. I wonder if that had anything to do with the closing?
Its tough economic times for everyone. It's sad when we can't support our local businesses. Sadly if USD 470 and its contractors were to hire LOCAL people and business for the building of and remodeling of the schools locals would have more cash to spend. Since Hutton is also the general contractor for the hospital I'm sure locals won't get to work on it either. Perhaps the investigative reports for the Traveler could look into the REAL story behind this and not a bunch of PR Bull that both places will put out there.
And the local contractor that could build these projects would be?? Did they bid...the process is open to all.
Mozittis closing is a huge loss for this community. We are losing more than a place to eat but also a very, very nice couple that worked to bring us the quality of food that people in bigger communities take for granted. I can only hope they will find some time to rest and reflect on the awesome food and class they shared with this community. While I will miss the food, I will miss them much more.
They were nice people, but when you owe everyone in town money, being nice doesn't cut it. Not only do they owe employess, but closing thier doors and hiring a bankrupcy attorney isn't good. When the crap really hits the fan, a lot of the buisnesses in town will take it on the chin because the Ryan's owe them.
You all want somewhere "nice" to eat, but at what expense??? Local business people not being paid for services rendered to Mozzitti's? Employee's not recieving wages? This place made money, but was poorly managed and ineffieciently perhaps even naively concieved. Not paying bills really hurts local economy. It makes services more expensive to others. Thats what Mozitti's left behind.
"This place made money, but was poorly managed and inefficiently perhaps even naively conceived."
You might be able to say that about every business that has opened in Ark City and not been able to stay alive. I think that is what they said about the sandwich shop on N Summit that is now an air conditioning shop, the restaurant that was in the old Country Club or the one opened by the Steve the Vet. Or the hardware store.
Let's face it: a business comes into town and the owners spend a boatload of money on it with the presumption that Ark City will support their expenses and maybe make a buck for the owners. If the town doesn't support them, they go out of business. It's simple.
Nobody should go broke owing people money, but that is what "going broke" is. It happens. Sometimes you can't help it.
Maybe Ark City should have supported them better instead of blaming them for thinking they could open a successful restaurant and giving it a try.
This is the reason Winfield/Ark city can't get any decent eating establishments. I always hear people say they wish we could have an Applebee's or chili's etc...But the towns people would not support it as well as one would think. Too many people like to go out of town to get away for the evening and they would continue to do so.
June 22, 2009 To all Friends and Guests: As we shopped in silence looking for signs to sell our home I reflected on the past , lets see almost two years ! Mozitti’s is and always can be a very good restaurant. We are very proud of its achievements. Our faithful Dinner Guests came from miles around as close as the neighboring towns of Winfield , KS and Newkirk OK , as far North as Wichita, KS and as far South as Oklahoma City, OK. More than once I heard them say “ It was well worth the drive” the great thing is they said it every time they dinned with us! And of course our Lunch guests of Arkansas City, KS, many we knew what they were going to order before they ordered it, they came in so often. Our Employees were a real good crew, great people, they are all like family to us. Most of them went through our many changes and difficulties with great vigor. To these aforementioned people we extend our apologies. Now we come to the question as to “Why did we decide to close such a successful establishment, Mozitti’s ?” The fact is when I can’t physically be a part of my own restaurant because I can’t afford to have others do the things that take me away from my employees and guests. When my husband must be gone weeks to months working to pay bills . Then I have to hang it up, my presence is important for Mozittis for its extended life. That, coupled with health, the economy and lack of working capital has brought us to this day, a day we never wanted to see happen. Now when we pound our sign into the ground and look at the home we are going to miss, we smile, think of regrouping. Finding ourselves thinking about the new menu I was working on and the joy I had testing the recipes and my husband eating them and thought of the dinners our guests have not even tried yet and the times we could have had with our employees. A new place yes, that’s always possible. We reflect on how happy we are that we did not loose the most important things in our lives, our faith and love for each other. Before we can move on... the bottom must hit, the cards must fall it wont be easy for anyone. Then we might think of starting again. If you have any further questions please contact our Attorney, Rick Hodge 316-448-1028. THANK YOU! Jim and Doreen Ryan Gottigos Inc DBA Mozitti’s Tuscan-Italian Eatery
How high was the rent for the building, the utilities, the insurance, how much money everyday had to be made in order to cover just those expenses. Add kitchen labor, waite staff wages, product to serve, how much has to be made everyday just to break even, no opps that might occur during the day, just bare break even.
When you are so far in debt, the quality of everything goes down. Try as you might you can't bail water fast enough to keep the money coming and going right.
The voices keep saying we can't support, or wont support, but that is not really the problem,
No one starts small anymore, I want my piece of the pie right now and I want it BIG. No body builds up. They want to just add water and try to have instant success. Look at the eateries that have years behind thrm. steakhouse, bricks, daisy mae. they weather good and bad times, The people support them. Eat at their places, they reinvest in the community. Has everyone forgotten, the awning, remember that it never got done because they didn't have the money, and when it got passed, they said they spent the money on something else.
Why blame the citizens for not supporting it when everyone I have talked to said that Mozitti's was full when they went in. please stop blaming us I think it was just to expensive to operate. That we gave everything we had. We just couldn't keep them successful.
I am sorry to the local business that stuck their necks out there and got hurt because of this closure.
I went to breakfast once at Jimmy T's in Winfield. I went to lunch onceat Jimmy T's in Winfield . I went to dinner once at Jimmy T's in Winfield.
I went back later and hte placed has closed and a new eatery was operating in the same location. I understand it is maybe the third of fourth in recent years at that corner.
Infrequently, we dine at the Ridge south of Winfield. I think it has had a few changes of ownership and some time out of operation.
It's now the Super 8 (I think) and once was home to the Garden Restaraunt. Most of our habitable motels have been closed & gone through ownership/management changes.
It's just business. The Mozzitti owners were as muched crunched out by economy issues as anything. In a differnt economic time, such a dynamic and marketable business plan would have been bought out by an ivestor rather than let it close.
Why kick someone while they are reeling from a disappointing setback. Thanks to the folks for giving us a choice for a couple of years.
Food service is tough but any young business in these financial times is tough sledding. I wish the run could have lasted longer and been more rewarding of the initiative.
12 comments:
Guess I will be driving more often to Ponca, Winfield, or elsewhere to eat. You can only eat so much Mexican and Asian food.
It was nice to be able to take visitors to a NICE plalce to eat. Now again we are left to traveling to Ponca or Wichita...sad news!
I am always sad to see a business close. That said the last couple times I had visited Mozittis you could tell things were slipping. The food had changed. They were often out of things when they shouldnt be. It is sad that they left the staff hanging. It is sad that they left all the businesses and people hanging that had extended them credit in good faith.
If the food hadn't changed I think people would have continued to eat there. I don't think you can call the restauant successfull, especially when they are closing.
The service was great.
One of the last big things Moz did was cater the Prariefest party. I thought at the time what an odd pairing to have an Italian Eatery cater a Nawlins themed event. I wonder if that had anything to do with the closing?
Its tough economic times for everyone. It's sad when we can't support our local businesses. Sadly if USD 470 and its contractors were to hire LOCAL people and business for the building of and remodeling of the schools locals would have more cash to spend. Since Hutton is also the general contractor for the hospital I'm sure locals won't get to work on it either. Perhaps the investigative reports for the Traveler could look into the REAL story behind this and not a bunch of PR Bull that both places will put out there.
And the local contractor that could build these projects would be?? Did they bid...the process is open to all.
Mozittis closing is a huge loss for this community. We are losing more than a place to eat but also a very, very nice couple that worked to bring us the quality of food that people in bigger communities take for granted. I can only hope they will find some time to rest and reflect on the awesome food and class they shared with this community. While I will miss the food, I will miss them much more.
Anonymous said...
While I will miss the food, I will miss them much more.
Ditto!!!!
They were nice people, but when you owe everyone in town money, being nice doesn't cut it. Not only do they owe employess, but closing thier doors and hiring a bankrupcy attorney isn't good. When the crap really hits the fan, a lot of the buisnesses in town will take it on the chin because the Ryan's owe them.
You all want somewhere "nice" to eat, but at what expense??? Local business people not being paid for services rendered to Mozzitti's? Employee's not recieving wages? This place made money, but was poorly managed and ineffieciently perhaps even naively concieved. Not paying bills really hurts local economy. It makes services more expensive to others. Thats what Mozitti's left behind.
"This place made money, but was poorly managed and inefficiently perhaps even naively conceived."
You might be able to say that about every business that has opened in Ark City and not been able to stay alive. I think that is what they said about the sandwich shop on N Summit that is now an air conditioning shop, the restaurant that was in the old Country Club or the one opened by the Steve the Vet. Or the hardware store.
Let's face it: a business comes into town and the owners spend a boatload of money on it with the presumption that Ark City will support their expenses and maybe make a buck for the owners. If the town doesn't support them, they go out of business. It's simple.
Nobody should go broke owing people money, but that is what "going broke" is. It happens. Sometimes you can't help it.
Maybe Ark City should have supported them better instead of blaming them for thinking they could open a successful restaurant and giving it a try.
This is the reason Winfield/Ark city can't get any decent eating establishments. I always hear people say they wish we could have an Applebee's or chili's etc...But the towns people would not support it as well as one would think. Too many people like to go out of town to get away for the evening and they would continue to do so.
A statement sent out by the owners
June 22, 2009
To all Friends and Guests:
As we shopped in silence looking for signs to sell our home I reflected on the
past , lets see almost two years ! Mozitti’s is and always can be a very good restaurant.
We are very proud of its achievements. Our faithful Dinner Guests came from miles
around as close as the neighboring towns of Winfield , KS and Newkirk OK , as far North
as Wichita, KS and as far South as Oklahoma City, OK. More than once I heard them
say “ It was well worth the drive” the great thing is they said it every time they dinned
with us! And of course our Lunch guests of Arkansas City, KS, many we knew what they
were going to order before they ordered it, they came in so often. Our Employees were
a real good crew, great people, they are all like family to us. Most of them went through
our many changes and difficulties with great vigor. To these aforementioned people we
extend our apologies.
Now we come to the question as to “Why did we decide to close such a successful
establishment, Mozitti’s ?” The fact is when I can’t physically be a part of my own restaurant
because I can’t afford to have others do the things that take me away from my employees
and guests. When my husband must be gone weeks to months working to pay
bills . Then I have to hang it up, my presence is important for Mozittis for its extended
life. That, coupled with health, the economy and lack of working capital has brought us
to this day, a day we never wanted to see happen.
Now when we pound our sign into the ground and look at the home we are going to
miss, we smile, think of regrouping. Finding ourselves thinking about the new menu I
was working on and the joy I had testing the recipes and my husband eating them and
thought of the dinners our guests have not even tried yet and the times we could have
had with our employees. A new place yes, that’s always possible. We reflect on how
happy we are that we did not loose the most important things in our lives, our faith and
love for each other.
Before we can move on... the bottom must hit, the cards must fall it wont be easy for
anyone. Then we might think of starting again. If you have any further questions please
contact our Attorney, Rick Hodge 316-448-1028.
THANK YOU!
Jim and Doreen Ryan
Gottigos Inc DBA Mozitti’s Tuscan-Italian Eatery
Exactly what does Ark City won't support it mean?
How high was the rent for the building, the utilities, the insurance, how much money everyday had to be made in order to cover just those expenses. Add kitchen labor, waite staff wages, product to serve, how much has to be made everyday just to break even, no opps that might occur during the day, just bare break even.
When you are so far in debt, the quality of everything goes down. Try as you might you can't bail water fast enough to keep the money coming and going right.
The voices keep saying we can't support, or wont support, but that is not really the problem,
No one starts small anymore, I want my piece of the pie right now and I want it BIG. No body builds up. They want to just add water and try to have instant success. Look at the eateries that have years behind thrm. steakhouse, bricks, daisy mae. they weather good and bad times, The people support them. Eat at their places, they reinvest in the community. Has everyone forgotten, the awning, remember that it never got done because they didn't have the money, and when it got passed, they said they spent the money on something else.
Why blame the citizens for not supporting it when everyone I have talked to said that Mozitti's was full when they went in. please stop blaming us I think it was just to expensive to operate. That we gave everything we had. We just couldn't keep them successful.
I am sorry to the local business that stuck their necks out there and got hurt because of this closure.
I went to breakfast once at Jimmy T's in Winfield. I went to lunch onceat Jimmy T's in Winfield . I went to dinner once at Jimmy T's in Winfield.
I went back later and hte placed has closed and a new eatery was operating in the same location. I understand it is maybe the third of fourth in recent years at that corner.
Infrequently, we dine at the Ridge south of Winfield. I think it has had a few changes of ownership and some time out of operation.
It's now the Super 8 (I think) and once was home to the Garden Restaraunt. Most of our habitable motels have been closed & gone through ownership/management changes.
It's just business. The Mozzitti owners were as muched crunched out by economy issues as anything. In a differnt economic time, such a dynamic and marketable business plan would have been bought out by an ivestor rather than let it close.
Why kick someone while they are reeling from a disappointing setback. Thanks to the folks for giving us a choice for a couple of years.
Food service is tough but any young business in these financial times is tough sledding. I wish the run could have lasted longer and been more rewarding of the initiative.
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