History

Robert Esordi (left) tends bar and converses with Moris Sossi -March 1930

The building is vintage 1888 as close as we can come to its con-struction date. The Marazza family opened their doors in February of 1890 to the farmers as a boarding house with a warm meal included. Mrs. Marazza’s reputation as a fine cook spread quickly throughout the Eastern Market area. At the urging of her fans, she expanded service and opened her restaurant, the Roma Cafe.

In 1918, the business was sold to Mr. John Battaglia and Mr. Morris Sossi. As they began their partnership, an addition was put on the building and exists exactly the same today. Within one year John Battaglia died and Morris Sossi bought out his widow and became the sole owner of the Roma Cafe.

Morris Sossi’s nephew, Hector Sossi, began working as a busboy for his uncle in 1940. In the early 1950’sMorris returned to his native Italy and left the management to his Hector. Hector Sossi carried on the family tradition and bought out Morris in 1965 to become the fourth owner of the Roma Cafe.

Sam (middle) serving customers in the dining room

In 1997, Mr. Sossi remains the owner of Roma’s with a third generation family member at the helm. His daughter, Janet Sossi Belcoure, currently handles the management of this historic Italian eatery. As Roma heads into the next century, stock transfers have begun as Mrs. Sossi Belcoure will become the fifth owner of Roma Cafe, Inc.

Roma Cafe and its history sits on the original 1888 location serving up Italian favorites to a whole new gener-ation of Detroiters.

As we look to the future, the success of the Roma is secure in the Sossi tradition with a fourth generation Sossi waiting in the wings of this venerable establish-ment. Hector Sossi’s granddaughter, Jessica Belcoure, at the tender age of 12, has eyes set on following in her grandfather’s and mother’s footsteps.

The Roma Cafe is Detroit's oldest restaurant