Garrettsville – Back in 1983, Cal and Carole King took a leap of faith, opening Cal’s Restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Stevie’s Master Pizza. Aaron King explained, “Donny Paul and his brother Roy “Sonny” Paul thought it would be a good fit for my mom and dad.” Aaron went on to explain that his dad, a pro bowler at one time, had been a chef in his younger days. The Paul brothers’ hunch was correct, with Cal’s Restaurant serving the Garrettsville community for the last 40 years.
When they first opened their doors, they had just four employees; today the thriving eatery now boast close to thirty. Reflecting on the anniversary, King noted, “To make it this far, we needed a good core of people. We’ve been fortunate to have so many loyal employees who have stayed with Cal’s.” He noted that several new employees have been with the establishment ten years or more. King noted that Cal’s relies on several long-time employees, including Manager Brian Rader, who began working there in high school more than thirty years ago. And while the restaurant’s namesake passed away in 2004, his wife Carole (pictured above) has been there for the duration, still involved at Cal’s daily.
“Cal’s appeals to such a large customer base,” King noted. “We’re known for our pizza. But our homemade specials like city chicken and Swiss steak are a big hit among seniors, and our large menu choice is great for families. We’ve got something for everyone,” he explained.
1997, Cal’s entered the delivery business, competing with the new arrival of a pizza chain restaurant. According to King, at that time Cal’s purchased one of the largest pizza ovens available to handle the massive demand. Still in operation today, ‘Big Bertha’ can bake 32 large pizzas at once. And while other restaurants struggled during the COVID pandemic, Cal’s take out service kept the business running. “It was probably the busiest we’ve been,” King noted. “We’re fortunate to have been able to continue serving the community.”
In addition to delivery and pick up services, Cal’s also offers dine-in service in their newly remodeled dining room. To celebrate Cal’s 40th anniversary, they’re offering several specials – a gift to their customers. From January 18th through the 20th, they’ll feature a top sirloin dinner for $13.99 and a four-piece chicken dinner for $9.99. Cal’s also offers catering services for family gatherings, holiday get-togethers, and graduation parties.
“Everyone knows Cal’s,” King noted. “We plan on being around a long time providing the same great food we’ve been known for over the last 40 years.”
