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On Friday afternoon, the community officially
welcomed Jason and Ashleigh Mauhar to the downtown business
community as the new owners of Sorrento’s Pizzeria.
The couple, along with their three children Arrington, Addisynn, and
Hollis, have been the owners of the business since May. After a time
of getting comfortable with their new business and their new pace of
life, the family welcomed the opportunity to share a special time
with the public in the form of the ribbon cut.
The event was very well attended with many guests who
arrived right at 4 p.m. for the cut with plans of taking a seat and
enjoying a great meal afterward.
There was also a good turnout of friends and family
who stood behind the ribbon with the Mauhar’s including the former
owners Lisa & Jim Drew along with their son Toni, daughter Anna and
their families.
Also gathered behind the ribbon were Lincoln Mayor
Tracy Welch, Aldermen Kevin Bateman, Dennis Clemons, and Steve
Parrott, Lincoln City Clerk Peggy Bateman, Logan County Tourism
Bureau Director Wanda Lee Rohlfs, and Logan County royalty Miss
Logan County Fair Julia Collins and Little Miss Logan County Vayda
Farmer.
Logan County Board member Kathy Schmidt and Lincoln Director of
Tourism Scott McCoy were also on hand.
Lisa Drew was recognized and given the opportunity to speak. She
began by saying that the day was certainly not about her, but about
Jason and Ashleigh. She recalled that Sorrento’s had been in her
family for 56 years, and the decision to close the business earlier
this year had been a matter of necessity. She said that when the
closing was announced, the Mauhar’s reached out to her and Jim, but
at that time Lisa’s priorities were with her husband who needed to
make a trip to Mayo Clinic, so she said the sale would have to wait.
Drew did mention that one of the gratifying circumstances of the
sale was when she learned that 21 of the staff that had been let go
at the closing wanted to come back for the new owners.
Others who spoke included the Mayor who talked about
preserving a long standing business in Lincoln and wished the
Mauhar’s all the best. Steve Parrot said something similar as did
Kevin Bateman. Dennis Clemons wished the Mauhar’s all the best in
their endeavors. Wanda Lee Rohlfs shared memories of the restaurant
as she was familiar with most of the locations where the eatery had
been located in Lincoln. She also said that she included Sorrento’s
in her recommendations to guests stopping at the tourism bureau and
a great place to eat located in the heart of the city.
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Ashleigh and Jason both spoke, with Ashleigh
expressing her heart felt gratitude to the Drews who had been very
supportive, providing advise and coaching as the new owners got
their feet wet in the business of owning a restaurant. She said that
Lisa had been quick to answer questions via phone calls and late
night texts and she was so grateful that the Drew’s were willing to
help the Mauhar’s.
With speeches concluded, the traditional group photo was taken, then
was the countdown to the snip with the large crowd in attendance
helping with the countdown and cheering loudly after the conclusion.
Guests were then invited in where there were cookies
being served, and of course plenty of opportunities to order a
favorite pizza.
Prior to the ribbon cutting, Ashleigh spoke about the decision to
purchase Sorrento’s. She said that Jason had been a part of the
staff while he was in college and had enjoyed working at Sorrento’s.
She said that he knew the family before working there, and had gone
there to eat on many occasions.
Then, when she and Jason were dating, she would go to the restaurant
at the end of the night, they would grab a pizza to go at the end of
Jason’s shift, and that was their date night. She said that on more
than one occasion, Jason would talk about how he liked working
there, and that he would like to own a pizza place someday. Ashleigh
said she was always the one who said no, that couldn’t happen.
She said after they were married, the family would still visit
Sorrento’s and they loved going there. And on occasion, Jason would
say once again that he would like to own a pizza place and she would
say once again that it just wasn’t in the cards.
She and Jason both have different careers. Ashleigh works in Student
Support Services at Lincoln Community High School and Jason owns By
Design landscaping, which keeps him very busy, especially at this
time of year.
However, Ashleigh had a change of heart when she heard that
Sorrento’s was closing. She said that in addition to being fond of
the restaurant and knowing it was a long held dream of Jason’s, she
was also troubled by the idea of another business in the heart of
the city closing its doors. So, when Jason approached the idea of
buying Sorrento’s Ashleigh was ready to say yes.
She said Jason called Lisa Drew immediately, but of course the
Drew’s had other issues to address and put the sale on hold.
Consequently, the restaurant closed in February and the Mauhar’s
re-opened on May 22nd.
Ashleigh said in reality, the timing was perfect this time around.
She said that prior to this the Mauhar children had been too young
for Jason and Ashleigh to take on a business in addition to their
regular careers. Now, Arrington is 17, Addisynn is 14, and Hollis is
10. She said they are old enough to be at home without their
parents, but they are also mature enough to help out at the
restaurant when needed.
She said the girls have often helped fill in at
Sorrento’s as hostesses while Hollis is very good at washing dishes
and carrying out pizzas.
Ahsleigh said they have quickly come to love the restaurant, its
staff and it's patrons. She said she has always enjoyed having
gatherings of friends and family in her private life. She said that
is the attitude at the restaurant, like everyone has gathered in the
living room to enjoy good food and visit.
She said that she and Jason have big shoes to fill. Lisa and Jim
Drew were wonderful bosses to their staff and had personal
relationships with their patrons. Ashleigh said she felt that it was
a real testament to the people the Drews really are when 21 of the
staff members sought to return to the restaurant with the Mauhars.
Taking over the restaurant has been a positive experience for the
Mauhar’s and Ashleigh noted that the downtown community of business
owners has been very supportive and helpful as well.
Ahsleigh said that she and Jason do not plan to make any big changes
to the restaurant. The goal is to take what is already good and keep
it moving forward.
Because Jason and Ashleigh both have additional careers, the current
plan is to have the restaurant open three evenings a week. She said
that at some point they may consider adding night to the schedule
but not just yet.
Sorrento’s is open each Thursday evening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. On
Friday and Saturday those hours are extended to 9 p.m. They offer
carry out and delivery all three evenings. Sorrento’s is located at
614 Broadway Street in Lincoln. The phone number is (217) 735-1442.
Visit them on
Facebook.
[Nila Smith]
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