Modesto eateries from burgers to Italian to a bakery face big changes, closure, more
Three Modesto eateries are going through big changes in 2020, from closing down to fighting to stay open and changing names.
Krazy Rolls, the downtown Modesto bakery that opened at the start of 2018, has closed. The shop specialized in ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls the size of a substantial grapefruit. Friends and business partners Adalberto Vega and Sandra Avila came up with the idea for the specialty bakery while students together at California State University, Stanislaus.
Last fall, they opened a second location in a kiosk in Stockton’s Weberstown Mall. But now both the 11th Street location in Modesto and Stockton mall spot have shut down. Calls were not returned inquiring about the future of the bakery or reasons for closure.
But those used to getting their cinnamon roll fix from Krazy Rolls will now have to look elsewhere.
Just off downtown Modesto on H Street, Pastas Pronto is now Palermo Italian Cucina. The new restaurant serves Italian cuisine just like Pastas Pronto for a good reason — it’s owned by the same family. Elizabeth Zamora, daughter of Pastas Pronto owner Sergio Zamora, took over earlier this year and changed the name.
The family has owned Pastas Pronto in its original H Street location for about eight years. Then some five years ago launched a second location on Coffee Road. But they weren’t done because in early 2018 they opened a third Pastas Pronto, this time on Fourth Street in downtown Ceres. They’ve since sold the Coffee Road location and it remains open with other owners, but have kept the H Street and Ceres spots in the family. Zamora Sr.’s son, Sergio Zamora Jr., runs the Ceres location.
Still, the name is really the only thing that has changed about the H Street restaurant. The eatery features the same menu, same chef (Zamora Sr.’s wife) and same hours as Pastas Pronto. So you still can get your meat lasagna, chicken marsala and penne paisano just how you like them.
Palermo Italian Cucina is at 310 H St. in Modesto. For more information call 209-521-5000.
And in west Modesto, Burgerim is fighting its corporate parent which is facing serious and widespread financial troubles. The Modesto site on Carpenter Road was opened almost exactly a year ago by husband-and-wife Modesto franchise owners Greg and Danielle Fraioli.
The Israeli-founded chain — known for its mini gourmet burgers — has aggressively franchised across the U.S., especially in the last two years. But now it seems to be imploding and threatening bankruptcy. The mess has been called a “disaster” by Restaurant Business, a food services industry trade publication.
The chain is no longer allowed to register franchises in at least four states: Washington, Maryland, Virginia and Michigan. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has asked federal regulators to investigate the chain, which has its U.S. operations based in Calabasas. And Yelp has issued a consumer alert for the restaurant chain, saying the company has paid people for positive reviews.
In short, the chain isn’t doing well. Now the Fraiolis are caught in the middle. They said the corporate chain “disconnected” from all of its franchises in mid-December and they haven’t heard from them since. As a result they’ve hired a franchise lawyer and are joining an association of other franchisees to be able to keep the restaurant’s name and suppliers.
Danielle Fraioli said her family has sunk some $600,000 into the restaurant, including a $50,000 fee to the company just for naming rights. The restaurant, she said, is still doing fine and they’ve steadily grown their customer base. They currently employ about 15 people and aren’t in imminent danger of closing.
“We’re open every day. We don’t plan on closing. We don’t plan on changing our name,” she said. “We’re doing everything in our power to stay open and keep serving our customers in Modesto.”
They’ve launched a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for the franchise lawyer and association costs. They’re hoping to raise some $15,000. Find it at www.gofundme.com/f/save-burgerim-modesto. But they also said if they have to they plan to change names and continue on.
Burgerim, at 1521 N. Carpenter Road, is open daily. For more information, call 209-579-9602 or visit www.facebook.com/pg/modestoburgerim.
This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 3:39 PM.
