FALL RIVER — Looks like the city will soon be bidding do widzenia to the Patti's Pierogis it's known and loved for over a decade.
The popular Fall River restaurant — which has spent time in the national spotlight — marked the end of an era when it was put on the market last month.
News of the sale came as a surprise to many local fans of their traditional Polish fare, resulting in a full-on "pierogi panic in this city," said Patti Geary, owner of the 1019 South Main St. fixture.
"We've been extremely busy because people are coming in, they're happy for me yet they're sad because they're all wondering what's gonna happen to their beloved pierogis," she said.
"This news getting out was bigger than Bill Murray," said Geary with a laugh, referring to their 2019 visit from the famous actor and comedian.
But try not to get swept up in the pierogi panic, said Geary. She's not going anywhere just yet, and neither is the restaurant's authentic Polish cuisine.
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After 14 years, Geary decided it was time to hang up her apron and look into retirement. She's hoping to pass the mixer to someone new who will carry on the place's pierogi legacy.
In fact, the sale of the restaurant, which includes the building, the business, the equipment, a full liquor license and all Geary's family recipes, is contingent on finding a buyer who intends to keep it a Polish eatery, but maybe take the small, mom-and-pop spot to a whole new level.
"What I would really like is to keep it going and have someone else do the running of the business," said Geary, who would teach the new owner the ropes in the kitchen before parting ways.
How Patti's Pierogis got its start
Patti's Pierogis was established in 2009, born out of Geary's love of cooking and with the help of her husband Ron.
"It was my family's recipes, my dream, my passion," said the Somerset resident and Fall River native.
She started cooking at age 10, making pierogies at home with her mother. From there, Geary started a tiny business out of her kitchen selling the Polish dumplings to family and friends, before exploring a more permanent brick-and-mortar venture.
At the time, aside from annual Polish Picnics held at local parishes such as St. Stanislaus and Holy Trinity, there weren't a lot of places to go to for authentic Polish cuisine the way babcia (grandma) made it — and there still isn't.
Patti's is the only sit-down restaurant in the Greater Fall River area where folks can find it.
"It was lacking not only with Polish people, but people who grew up in a Polish neighborhood or had a Polish friend and had this type of food from their grandmother," she said. "That's what was missing, and I filled that void and made a lot of people happy."
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What is Patti's Pierogi's known for?
According to Geary, Patti's most popular offerings, by far, are potato and cheese pierogies, their golumpki (stuffed cabbage rolls), and her line of kielbasa, called Patti's Own Polish Kielbasa.
Over the years, it's been sold in small markets in the area, but now can only be purchased in-house.
While she’s assured patrons she'd still be around for the holidays, Geary said that hasn't stopped customers from stopping in to stock up on pierogies and links of her kielbasa to freeze for Christmas. Just in case.
Safe to say, Patti's Pierogis has won a lot of hearts of foodies far and near.
Fans include Bill Murray and Guy Fieri
Reflecting on the past 14 years at her restaurant, Geary said one thing she has come to learn is that you never know who is gonna walk through your door.
"It's never boring. ... You never know who you're gonna meet," she said.
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Among her most memorable moments were surprise visits from famous faces such as actor Bill Murray, who popped into the Fall River restaurant with Academy Award-winning director and New England native Peter Farrelly amid his Martha's Vineyard vacation. The restaurant was also featured by celebrity chef and host Guy Fieri on his show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" in 2012, as well as Phantom Gourmet.
And she's still holding out hope these high-profile pals pop back in for one last meal before she hangs up her apron.
What's next for Geary
Geary has worked in restaurants all her life, since she was 14, and while not a lot of people would agree because the food industry can be tough, it's something she's never grown tired of.
"It's not for everybody, but it was always for me," said Geary, noting she's at the eatery morning until night five, sometimes six days a week. "I'm here all the time. I don't leave."
Not because she can't, but because she chooses not to, Geary said. But after 14 years, Geary felt it was time for a break - time to spend more time with her husband and dog, time to finally take that vacation.
"I've never relaxed, so that's gonna be weird," Geary said. "I still love what I'm doing. It's a bittersweet thing.”
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Will Patti's be closing?
So when will we be seeing the last of Patti's Pierogis, and Geary's friendly face behind the counter whipping up your favorite Polish comfort foods? Could be next month. Could be next year, Geary said.
It'll take time to find a buyer who's the right fit, she said.
"And, who knows, I might come back and ask for a job," Geary joked.
"If I didn't own this place I would love to work here," Geary said. "This is a nice homey little family restaurant. Everyone gets along, everyone works well with one another. It's like a little house in here, like grandma's kitchen."
There have been a few showings since being listed by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, at an asking price of $609,000, a month ago. A couple of prospective buyers were looking to take the building in a different direction, but they also saw some Polish families looking to continue the pierogi tradition, but perhaps not keeping the building's long-familiar name.
Geary has kept Patti's a small, no-frills restaurant since opening its doors in 2009, but the restaurant landscape is changing and she's hoping a new generation of owners can take it further.
She envisions the eatery's next pierogi chief could expand the operation with additional menu offerings, a food truck, or DoorDash and delivery options.
In the meantime, it remains business as usual as Patti's Pierogis, and Geary is just enjoying the rest of the ride.
"It's been an amazing, amazing journey," she said. "I'll miss it tremendously, there's no doubt about that."
