04/30/2026
Marcelloni's of Pontiac. The sale was completed today around 4 o'clock. My 8 years in Pontiac were mostly very enjoyable.
I made many friends and a few enemies. I usually tried to be fair and helpful, and usually, it worked out. A few times it didn't. I learned that karma is real. Most of my enemies know what I mean.
My friends and customers, I wish you all well. I received much more than I gave, and I'm very grateful.
I'll miss Mill Street's free pool Thursdays, Quick's free pool Wednesdays
and PJ's free pool Tuesdays.
The new owners at Mill and PJ's are great; check them out and say hi for me. Really, please do!
Friday's fish special at Backstretch - Lisa might be one of the most intelligent people I've ever met; she kept me real.
Edinger's sauerkraut soup and pineapple appetizer special.
Café Fontana's fountain of youth salad is awesome, and the staff is too.
Pub 13 Riggs bothers beer and chicken tacos.
Please say Ken from the old Marchelloni’s for me please
Johnny the servant Jessy the best DJ and great pool player Jeff my dance partner and Terry my nemesis.
Thank you you for your friendship and tolerating me. I'll be looking you all up when I come back to Ptown.
Realtor Terry Sullivan, thank you for your assistance and mentoring me.
Heartland, my tax service and accounting advisor in Fairbury - Ruth and Kathy are the best.
Larry McWilliams of McWilliams Roofing, thank you for putting me in touch with Rosati's. He's a jerk but a lovable jerk.
Eric Naretto, the best pool coach possibly in the country, is a gem but can also be brutal. If you want to learn the game or get to the next level, you should contact him.
My brother Roger, for letting me stay with him 5 nights a week on and off for over 5 years - he's the best man I've ever known. He's lives in O'Dell and is always willing to share a beer with anyone who stops by.
My coworkers this last go-around: Josh, Jaydon, Jaxson, Melanie, Ashley, and my manager Jamie. Jamie's changes to the beef roll and nuggets took them to the next level. They made running the parlor very enjoyable. The toughest part was deciding how to get them all the hours they wanted to work. Some volunteered even when they weren't scheduled or paid. They all did get some free pizza, though.
Please contact me if you want a reference for these guys or need to contact them. I would hire them all again in a second. Really I would like to assist them in finding them their next opportunity.
Letty and Rob for training me on how to make possible the best Beef Roll and Pizzas. The gave me the winning recipes and all I had to do was not mess it up.
One of my biggest mistakes was leaving the parlor and not asking Rob to run it when I left.
My customers, many great suggestions their support giving me 3 and 4 chances when I came back 3 times.
Especially Jeremy the fireman, I am truly sorry for the greif I caused you.
I’m sure I’m missing something and many people.
I've had a much better life than I deserved.
I'm so grateful for my time in Pontiac.
I love Pontiac and it delivered for me.
Ken
