Ovens were cooling and ingredients for bread, pasta and the rest of the menu were shelved one last time Saturday night at a well-known downtown Cleveland restaurant.

NewsChannel5 reports that for 74 years, the restaurant served and savored and sold Italian cuisine. But on Saturday night, the owner of the New York Spaghetti House tearfully said goodbye to the last of his customers.

"They've been so good to me," owner Jim Brigotti (pictured, below) said. "They've been good to me for 75 years."

Hundreds of Brigotti's customers waited inside and outside for a table Saturday at the New York Spaghetti House, located on East Ninth Street.

Some of the people wanted to say that they made history, being among the last to eat at the restaurant, but most people wanted to say thanks -- for the meals and the memories, WEWS reports.

Dolly Antolini thought back to the times that her father brought her to the spaghetti house.

"They'd have a glass of wine for me even though I was only 10 years old, and my dad made it very special for me," Antolini said.

Brigotti can relate to the tears that Antolini choked back, because he helped to create lots of good times.

"Never have I had a day that I said, 'Geez, I wish I was closed,'" he said. "The day is come; it is today. I just don't want to get too emotional."

Brigotti has maintained a solid reputation over the years, WEWS reports.

"The food is good -- it's always hot -- service is always good and there's always generous portions," long-time customer Dionne Thomas Carmichael said.

The New York Spaghetti House is famous for its original brown sauce.

"It's actually a sauce that is steam-cooked and pureed," Brigotti said. "That's what gives it the brown look on it, but it's very difficult to duplicate."

Will Brigotti sell the restaurant now that the last meal has been eaten?

"Maybe in a month or two, something will come about," he said. "But right now, I just want to go home."

Brigotti is leaving the food business, but not the area, WEWS reports. He will retire to his horse farm in Richfield, Ohio.

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• January 13, 2001: Famous Downtown Eatery To Serve Its Last Dish