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Accompanying the article was this photo of the sign being updated with the Pasquini's name: <br />The Empire Lounge & Restaurant opened in 2008 and the writing on the neon sign was changed <br />to say "The Empire Lounge." Echoing the original Colacci's sign and the Pasquini's sign, the dot <br />on the "i" in "Empire" is represented as a star. <br />Owners of 816 Main since Colacci Family Ownership (1993 to present) <br />In 1993, Colacci's Restaurant sold 816 Main to Hunt Kitchens, operated by Jack Hunt. It <br />continued to be operated as "Colacci's." In 1997, it was purchased by Eric and Gail Dixon, who <br />also continued to operate it as "Colacci's" and with many of the same Italian dishes. <br />In 2000, the Pasquini family purchased 816 Main, and in 2005, ownership was transferred to <br />Pasquini LLC. Pasquini's Restaurant opened in the building in 2000 and offered dishes such as <br />pizza, calzones, pastas, and salads in a casual atmosphere. The decision by the City of Louisville <br />to allow the sign to remain is described above. <br />In 2008, the Empire Lounge & Restaurant opened in the building. The current owner of record <br />is Pasquini's LLC. <br />Appendices: <br />Daily Camera article, "Colacci's Open in New Location in Louisville," Aug. 19, 1955. <br />Daily Camera article, "Louisville Colacci's Sign May Stay," Mar. 9, 2000. <br />Daily Camera article, "A Sign of Change in Louisville," Aug. 16, 2000. <br />The preceding research is based on a review of relevant and available County property records, census records, <br />oral history interviews, Louisville directories, and Louisville Historical Museum maps, files, and obituary records. <br />16 <br />