by Rob Clay
Forty-three years ago, a small deli under the flight path along Des Moines Way opened for business. Filiberto Genzale, his brother Alfonso, their sister Filomina Perry and her husband Ron Perry had realized part of their dream of bringing a little of their homeland to the Northwest. The deli did well but they had bigger dreams. They wanted a restaurant to feature some of “Mina’s” fine cooking.
On the adjacent corner a small grocery came up for sale. It sat across the street from the Sunnydale Tavern at S. 144th St. The family bought it.
Filiberto’s gained an early, favorable reputation for “old country” meals like they served in Mirabella,Italy.
Time passed, Filiberto had to move back to Italy for personal reasons. Filomina and Ron kept at it, serving traditional lasagna, Chicken Cacciatore and other notable dishes.
Eventually “Mina” brought the kids into help. Son Pasquale worked the floor while mom cooked and Ron hosted. The restaurant grew to include a bocce ball court with regular tournaments.
For more than 25 years they fed their ‘family’ of friends, from Boeing engineers to the Alhadeff’s of Long Acres, who often brought celebrities into dine.
Many restaurant reviews were posted on the entry walls with claims of excellence. Many regulars read them again and again to remind themselves of how special Filiberto’s had become.
Then Mina’s husband, Ron, passed away.
The third runway at the airport encroached on Mina’s path too. Her beloved restaurant was purchased by the Port of Seattle. She had to move. She did not stay idle.
A suitable location was found in 2009 in the old Seattle Trust & Savings bank near 152nd and Ambaum. Mina and Pasquale opened the doors and continued the tradition.
Now the path has changed once again. Mina wants to take a break. After more than 40 years of cooking pizza, making sausage and her own style of pasta, she is ready.
The restaurant won’t go far. Members of the Genzale family are negotiating to continue operating, albeit with different management, different menu choices too, since they know that Mina won’t be behind the pizza counter with her apron, kneading dough or stirring the sauce. She’ll be traveling, cooking for friends at home on her own path at her own pace. She batted her eyes when she said her plans for retirement are– “ I’m a gonna get a younga boy friend.”