EXETER — The lights went out for the last time July 29 at Villa Foglia Restaurant, marking the end of a 50-year run for the family-owned business.
Bernie Foglia, 76, is semi-retiring after 50 years in business — starting with Pete’s Pizza in 1967 and opening Villa Foglia in 1981. He said he will continue, for now, his catering business, taking bookings for weddings, graduations, rehearsals, reunions and funeral brunches.
Foglia said he had the business up for sale for more than a year, but couldn’t get the right deal. He and his wife, Karen, plan to visit their two daughters, Maria and Teresa, who live in California.
“I’ve been working since I was 12 years old,” Foglia said. “I figured that’s long enough.”
Foglia has had his share of health issues — a knee replacement (he needs another), two other surgeries, shoulder aches and pains.
“The older you get, the harder is is to deal with the pain,” he said. “It’s been a good run.”
Foglia said he would humbly say “thank you” to all of his customers, whom he will miss.
“I appreciate all the years we had in business,” Foglia said. “I hope to run into my customers from time to time.”
Foglia said he did 99 percent of the cooking at the restaurant, adding it was a lot of work, but he will miss it.
“There’s an old adage that all good things must come to an end,” he said. “Actually, all things come to an end, good or bad. Sooner or later, I had to quit. I’m glad I made it this long. I feel very fortunate, but it just isn’t as much fun as it used to be.”
When Foglia returned from a stint in the U.S. Navy, he was recruited by Pete Bay to operate Pete’s Pizza, now the location of A&A Auto Stores on Wyoming Avenue in Exeter. Foglia moved the business to the current site of Pizza L’oven, noting he was untouched by the Agnes Flood of 1972. He opened Villa Foglia at 1133 Wyoming Ave., Exeter, in 1981.
