La Parma in Williston Park to close after 41 years
La Parma restaurants are known for family-style Italian dishes, such as lobster ravioli with cognac shrimp sauce. Its Williston Park location is closing. Credit: Daniel Brennan
After 41 years, La Parma is closing in Williston Park. Co-owner Anthony Gralto and business partner Dominic Gregorio have sold the building. The last night of service is July 27.
"I put [the announcement] on Facebook this morning and I got [an] overwhelming amount of people responding, it’s incredible," he told Newsday by phone Wednesday. "It brings tears to my eyes."
La Parma opened in June 1984 and was "one of the first family style restaurants on Long Island," according to its website, serving oversized portions of pastas, Parms and chops. Gralto and Gregorio purchased the building at 707 Willis Ave. in 1995. Business expanded with other partners running La Parma II in Huntington and La Parma III in Oceanside, both of which will remain open.
Gralto declined to share details of the sale, but confirmed that another Italian restaurant will be taking over the space.
"The new owner is in the business, he has a few restaurants," Gralto said. "Right now, I can’t say too much but he’s looking to close down for about a month, fix the place up and reopen."
La Parma, 707 Willis Ave., Williston Park, 516-294-6610, laparma.com. Through July 27, open 12:30-9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 12:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday.
Melissa Azofeifa is a restaurants reporter with Newsday's FeedMe team. Having grown up on Long Island, she loves talking about food and its impact on culture. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she joined Newsday in the fall of 2024.
