People who (can) make a difference

It's you and I, folks, who can make a difference in Arkansas City.

The examples of people who have done a lot for the town are many. We could join their ranks.

I may mention a few of those people from the town's history later.

But right now I want to talk about a couple who moved here recently. They are trying to fill a need for Arkansas City by opening a new authentic Italian cuisine restaurant.

Doreen and Jim Ryan recently held a "soft opening" for their classy restaurant on First Street just north of Fifth Avenue.

Before I go any further, I want also to acknowledge that Pizza Hut is building a new Wings Restaurant with an expanded menu on Summit Street across from the Dillon's Store. And another place, the Redzone bar and grill, has opened at 1419 N. Eighth, in the Redwood Village shopping plaza.

The Pizza Hut is expected to open in September, so obviously I can't review it, although I'm happy it's coming. And I haven't yet visited the Redzone.

But I can talk about the Ryans' new place, Mozitti's.

Walking in there for the first time a few days ago was like being back in a nice restaurant in Italy. I recently returned from a vacation in Rome.

I don't want to give the wrong impression. Mozitti's is not a stuffy fine-dining place, although it does have white tablecloths and great food. It is a comfortable, inviting place. A place you'd like to bring friends or family.

That's the way Ryans want it, Doreen told me. They want to provide a casual atmosphere and a pleasant dining experience.

Doreen Ryan brings 20 years restaurant experience with her to Ark City. She started out as a dishwasher in restaurants her family operated. Her husband wanted to join her in a venture here, and she finally agreed.

Mozitti's now features pizzas and sandwiches made with special Italian breads and seasonings. But eventually the restaurant's menu will include such entrees as grilled steak, grilled salmon and shrimp scampi.

Ryan said she also plans to add pasta and wine offerings.

The day Mozitti's opened, the restaurant was packed, I am told. It had a lot of people there the day I was there.

Let's keep supporting our restaurants, including this new one.

Another fine, family-run restaurant that has operated successfully here for decades is the Green Door. It offers authentic Mexican food with fine ingredients and is run by the Ramirez family.

And don't forget Jerry's Donuts, now called Ike's, at 909 N. Summit St.

Jerry Stover was an Arkansas City native who worked in the donut business for 45 years. He and his wife, Janelle, opened a donut shop here in 1981 and they kept rising at dawn to make the donuts until retiring last December.

They turned the shop over to Ike Heilig, who worked for them.

And finally, an example of a successful Ark City restaurant from the past: the Purity Cafe. It was located next to the Home National Bank on Summit; its space now is part of the HNB.

I remember it serving good food when I grew up here in the 1950s and '60s. Business people would eat there daily.

Recently I came across a Traveler article printed in March 1953 on its early owners, the Gochis brothers.

They first opened the Purity Cafe on April 1, 1918, at 309 S. Summit St. Later, they moved it to the 200 block of South Summit and operated the Busy Bee for a number of years.

The Gochis brothers also operated the Chocolate Shoppe in the Osage Hotel for two years before moving the Purity Cafe to its 123 S. Summit St. location in 1938.