The Story of Frank and Angelina Vaccaro

Vaccaro's Trattoria was a concept first inspired by Frank Vaccaro. The original Vaccaro's was located in Arlington Plaza and was strictly a beer and wine shop. In the early 1950's Akron employed over 90.000 rubber workers that produced most of America's tires. In its heyday, Vaccaro's Beverage Shop was a one stop for beer and wine and catered to Akron's proud rubber workers in the era when Akron was the rubber capitol of the world. Mr. Vaccaro claimed to sell an average of 800 cases of Stroh's and Carling Black Label every week. Frank and Angelina were the typical young Italian couple who loved to entertain at home and work hard with a passion to be independent and have their own business. In those beginning days, a lot of Mr. & Mrs. Vaccaro's friends were guests at their small South Akron apartment for great traditional home style food. The classic line by their friends were " Boy if you could open a restaurant and serve this food......you would be the best! " It was said that this was the conception of the Trattoria. Mr. Vaccaro added a lunch counter to his beverage shop and the rest was history. After joining with his brother in law Sigmund Lembo, Vaccaro's soon became a regular name for quality pizza and pasta in the Akron area. With the partnership lasting over 35 years, Vaccaro's Pizza soon was a regular stop for a lot of patrons. There specialties ranged from a wide variety of homemade pasta dishes like "Timpano" to Sicilian Pizza Nostra. It was popular after local friday night high school football games or for the special first date! Today, the original Vaccaro's on Canton Road is now called Lembo's. They still serve high quality pizza, pasta, and chicken that has not changed for over 40 years. It now serves third generation customers and offers that classic Italian comfort food. The newest of the Vaccaro's is labeled as a" Trattoria." A trattoria is a small family owned restaurant that serves traditional Italian food local to its neighborhood. It is a complete 180 degree change from any concept developed in the last 40 years by the Vaccaro family. It has evolved into a fusion of old world traditional Italian food from Italy with a nouveau twist.