Italian Restaurant Proposed for Former Parasson's Site on Darrow Road in Stow

A new Italian restaurant could soon bring life back to one of Stow's most recognizable dining addresses. Applicant Nader Fahmy appeared before the Stow Planning Commission tonight seeking conditional use approval to open a traditional Italian restaurant at 3983 Darrow Rd., the location that housed Parasson's Italian Restaurant for decades before closing in May 2024. The commission meets at 6 p.m. Why a Conditional Use Is Required Even though the building operated as a restaurant for years, city zoning code requires a conditional use permit because the property has been vacant for more than six months. The application, filed June 16 under record number PC-26-17, seeks approval under Section 1104.03(A) governing restaurant uses in a C-1 Neighborhood Commercial district. No exterior changes to the building are proposed. The applicant described a goal of maintaining the current look of the restaurant while addressing needed repairs and enhancements to preserve what the application called "the cozy and classic feel that makes it so beloved." The Menu and Business Plan The proposed menu leans traditional Italian with some distinctive additions. Items under consideration include lasagna, pasta, salads, soups, gnocchi, steaks, pizza and a dessert selection that includes tiramisu, creme brulee and Egyptian baklava. The final menu will be developed with a head chef once one is hired. The venture is planned as a family operation. A husband and wife team would serve as assistant managers while their children handle marketing and promotions, with one daughter overseeing legal contracts and accounting. A general manager with sommelier experience would oversee front of house, while a head chef would run the kitchen. Both key hires would receive profit sharing as part of their compensation. The Property The 6,700 square foot building sits on 1.4 acres along Darrow Road (State Route 91). Property records show the site was purchased by Lee Grosscup in June 2025. City planning staff listed no conditions of approval and received no objections from the Engineering Department, Fire Department or City Arborist. A Location With Deep Roots The Darrow Road property carries more history than most Stow residents may realize. The building dates to 1939, when New York native Lillian Jae opened The Smorgasbord of Stow on the site of a former roadhouse called the Motor Inn. Jae, who had previously operated the Park Hotel tearoom in Wadsworth, envisioned a restaurant featuring exotic foods. The menu included Norwegian sardines, Nova Scotia lox, caviar, pickled herring and smoked salmon alongside classic entrees like chicken, steak and lobster. Food was prepared in the basement and delivered upstairs via dumbwaiter. The Smorgasbord operated for 34 years before closing. Anthony Parasson purchased the building and opened Parasson's Italian Restaurant, which became a fixture in the community for generations. Parasson's closed the Stow location when the company consolidated to its Akron restaurant on East Waterloo Road in 2024. The application does not include a proposed name or opening timeline for the new restaurant.