Roll 'N Rye to Close
By Stephen Hadland
Observer Publisher
Rita Zide, owner of Roll 'N Rye in Culver City, has announced the restaurant will close after 51 years in business. She plans to retire.
"I started here in April 1963 when my Dad opened the original restaurant. I started as a cashier."
She went on to purchase the restaurant from her father 35 years ago and built the new Roll 'N Rye in 1989.
Panera Bread will be moving into the Roll "N Rye location after extensive remodeling.
Zide has been a major benefactor to the community, especially on education. Each year the restaurant sponsored the "Classified Employee of the Year" and gave generously to the CCEF. She helped young people and students along the way. Many returned years later to thank her for all she did for them. She served on the Culver City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in the 1990's.
One of her favorite holidays was Halloween. She would decorate the restaurant extensively with a giant pumpkin at the front. A contest would be held each year for children to guess the weight of the pumpkin. Those closest to the correct weight would receive prizes.
"I hate to leave the community. I love this community, the people in it and my employees. I love everybody," Zide said, "but the time has come to relax and enjoy life."
Rita Zide will be missed.
Reader Comments(2)
RayRay writes:
Soon Panera will be on a roll.
09/11/2014, 12:46 pm
Paul writes:
Roll N Rye will be missed by the entire Culver City community. We stopped in last night for one last bowl of chicken soup; one last plate of lox, eggs an onions; one last corned beef sandwich and one last plate of boiled short ribs -- one last comforting meal. I'd like to thank Rita and the Zide family for 51 tasty years.
09/11/2014, 11:47 am