Niagara Reporter
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to this week’s edition of Ricky’s Corner. Hope you’re all staying warm in what is shaping up to be one of our shorter winters.
I am pleased to announce that we have decided to change our establishments name to Ricky’s Pub & Pizzeria.
Ana had an idea this place was going to happen!
The story of how I arrived at this name is a very special one.
My wife Kristy and I lost our eight year old little girl, Ana, this past fall to an inoperable tumor on a her brainstem. Ana was a very wise, insightful & beautiful little girl. We have three other daughters, Emily, 20, Caitlin, http://southbuffalonews.com7, and Katie, http://southbuffalonews.com4. Ana’s attitude throughout her illness was inspiring to us all. She was always cracking jokes, right to the end, often at my expense. I was her go to target; she never let me off the hook with my bad jokes.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
She will always be my baby. After Ana passed I came across a drawing she did before she was sick on a dry erase board that reminded me of a conversation we had. The drawing was that of a Bar & Restaurant called “Rick’s Place For Adults”.
Ana also drew in the picture ” And Playroom For Kids.”
I remember Ana showing this to me when she made it and her telling me I should open my own bar & restaurant. When Ana showed me, I was running my souvenir stores and we both had absolutely zero inkling that I would be getting into the restaurant business.
My involvement with The Nifty Fifty started in October as just a favor for a good friend. I was just helping out with managing the place during the off season of my summertime business. A lot of things happened quickly that gave me the opportunity to take ownership. When I was working on coming up with a new name for The Nifty, I came across her picture and instantly got goose bumps as I remembered right and then and there the conversation we had, I knew this was a true sign.
As much as I would love to keep the name Rick’s Place For Adults, I think Ana would understand upon me explaining to her that particular name might confuse people as to what kind of establishment we are. Ricky’s Pub & Pizzeria gets it done. A play room for kids is in the works and we hope to have it ready in early spring. The playroom will have something to do for kids as their parents eat, just as Ana wished. The room will also feature a blown up framed picture of the drawing she made for me and the room will be called “Ana’s Playroom”
My wife & I have discovered the path to the healing of our loss starts with us honoring and following through with the many fascinating things our Ana wanted and wished for.
Ricky’s will be a place for everyone. Kids & adults, Ladies & germs ( I can so see Ana rolling her eyes at that ) Hope to see you soon !!!
