A well-known Old Forge restaurant will soon have a new owner, but the pizza and Italian food customers have enjoyed for nearly a century will remain.
Salerno’s Cafe will be sold to Jeff Adomiak, with the deal expected to be finalized Tuesday, said Terry Lettieri, the wife of co-owner Michael Lettieri.
Terry Lettieri said she believes Adomiak, a Moosic resident, will successfully carry on the tradition of the restaurant, which dates back more than 90 years. All the recipes will be passed along, she said.
“His father always came into the place, and (Jeff) came in as a young boy,” she said. “He’s from the area, so he’s going to keep everything the same, and I’m going to stay and help him for a while.”
Lettieri, a fixture around the restaurant, noted the ages of herself and her husband led to the decision to sell the business.
“We’re old,” she said. “He’s 78 and I’m 76. We’ve been there over 50 years and we’re tired. We just need to move on.”
While the timing was necessary, Lettieri stressed that stepping away from the eatery and all the loyal customers who became friends is bittersweet.
“It was enjoyable,” she said. “It was really nice. We loved the business, we loved the people. It’s very sad, but we just need to retire.”
Anthony Salerno stands next to the business’ new owner Jeff Adomiak at Salerno’s in Old Forge on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Salerno’s in Old Forge on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Salerno’s in Old Forge on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Anthony Salerno stands next to the business’ new owner Jeff Adomiak at Salerno’s in Old Forge on Thursday, Jan. 08, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Adomiak expressed excitement about taking over the business in a Facebook post.
“I will be bringing 20-plus years experience with a few tricks up my sleeve — already have some in the works,” he said in the post.
In March, the owners of Salerno’s — Michael Lettieri and Anthony Salerno — put the 3,170-square-foot multiunit property at 137-139 Moosic Road in Old Forge on the market for $875,000. The sale includes two buildings. One houses Salerno’s Cafe and an apartment above the pizzeria , and the building next door houses three more apartments.
T.J. Cusumano, owner of Cusumano, an Italian American restaurant on South Main Street in the borough, praised Adomiak’s character and looks forward to supporting his venture.
“We’re excited about it because we’re customers of Salerno’s our whole life, my family,” he said. “We’ll continue to keep going there because we love the Adomiaks — they’re excellent people. Jeff is a real top-notch guy and he has a great family. We’re looking forward to giving them years of business, just like we did the last family — the Lettieris and the Salernos. We wish them well and years of continued success.”
Dining and Cooking