Family Heirloom: Gaetano’s in Torrance celebrate generations of restaurateurs
by Richard Foss In Los Angeles, something a century old is, well, old. The South Bay was mainly agricultural or chapparal in 1924, and as little as fifty years ago there were still open fields where office buildings and tract homes now stand. Compare that with European or Asian countries where there are many businesses that were under the same family ownership for multiple generations, and you will get a sense of why travelers sometimes find our historic landmarks quaint. It’s a bit odd that a local restaurant that celebrates a family legacy is in a modern and anonymous building in a sprawling shopping center. Gaetano’s is named after Gaetano Giulianio, who came from a family of grocers and opened a deli in Gardena in 1952. Two of Gaetano’s grandchildren opened a deli in Torrance in 1993, and after the great-grandchildren took over the business, it became the more upscale restaurant that it is now. That restaurant is a typical modern mall spot, but the walls are decorated with black and white images of family members in kitchens, restaurants, and at family tables. Spaghetti with Grandma’s Dot’s meatballs. The mix of modern and traditional extends to the menu, which includes…
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