07/26/2026
We are saddened to share the passing of my grandfather, Mario Scarpa. If you’ve been dining in Lakeland over the last six decades, chances are you’ve experienced his hospitality and the values he passed down through three generations of our family.
I remember being five or six years old, taking turns with my sisters to sit in the kitchen at Mario’s. I loved watching my dad and his dad cook side by side, and of course sneaking a few scraps along the way. Those are some of the moments that sparked my love for the food industry, which has passed through our family ever since, and I’m incredibly grateful for the legacy he started.
He was also a regular at Jessie’s, and I’m so happy that he got to be part of my journey. His favorites were the Mushroom Melt and the Farmer Ange, and no matter how many times we tried, he always refused the family discount and insisted on paying for his meal.
I’ll miss seeing him walk through our doors and sharing stories with the staff, but am grateful to have his pictures on the wall as a daily reminder of where our family’s journey began.
