Farewell, 'dear heart': Longtime Pennsylvania Macaroni worker to retire
There are more than 400 types of imported cheese offered at Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. in the Strip, and Carol Pascuzzi can tell you about each one.
But only after she calls you “dear heart,” of course.
“I don't know your name when you walk in — why wouldn't I call you dear heart?” Pascuzzi said. “When I give you cheese, I'm doing something for you that is for your table. It's private, it's family, it's a celebration. ‘Dear heart' is something I use; it's a term of endearment.”
For 30 years, Pascuzzi has greeted customers, bosses, co-workers — everyone — as dear heart. It's her signature move, part of what makes Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
But it all ends Saturday. Pascuzzi, 62, and her husband, Nick, 67 — who have worked side-by-side behind the cheese counter here since 1984 — will retire and move to Oklahoma to be closer to family (including a granddaughter the Pascuzzis intend to spoil).
“I'm going to miss the people,” Pascuzzi said.
The people will miss her.
They showed their love Thursday in the form of hugs, tears and a sprawling collection of flowers on her cheese counter that grew by the hour.
“She's such a classic,” said Holly McGuire, 69, of the Strip District, who started shopping at Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. the year the Pascuzzis started. “She's what makes us all love Pittsburgh. She's like (the late Vic Cianca) the dancing police officer — there are these unique people who make Pittsburgh unique. I wish it would stay like that forever.”
Company president David Sunseri confirmed that Pascuzzi calls everyone dear heart, even the bosses.
He praised the couple for their work ethic, their friendliness and their deep knowledge of all things cheese.
“In the 30 years they worked here, never once did I receive a customer complaint on them. That's amazing,” Sunseri said. “I love them. They don't work here; they're a part of the family. It's sad.”
He noted, however, that they trained their replacements, so “I have a feeling that those employees will step into their shoes and become ambassadors of Pittsburgh like Carol.”
The Pascuzzis are not sure what they'll do in Bartlesville, Okla., about 45 miles north of Tulsa. But they hinted that a new pizza or sandwich shop might be in the offing.
“There will be a small Pittsburgh down there by the time I'm done,” Carol Pascuzzi said.
To her hometown, she added: “I'm going to miss you, Pittsburgh, but I'm taking you with me, too.”
Then a customer walked up, and she pulled out her calling card.
“Can I help you, dear heart?” she said with a smile.
Chris Togneri is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at 412-380-5632 or ctogneri@tribweb.com.
