By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

ST. JOHNSVILLE — Fickle fall weather may have rained on Octoberfest organizers’ party last weekend, but the event wasn’t a total washout as evidenced by the turnout at the grand opening of St. Johnsville’s newest restaurant.

A constant stream of patrons flooded Cosmo’s Bar and Grill — owned by Fred and Tina Pierce of Lombardo’s Pizza Plus Restaurant — during the celebratory event, which linked this community’s past and present in sometimes unexpected ways Sunday afternoon.

Serving as DJ for the afternoon’s festivities was Eclectic Songs DJ Linda Terricola, of Perth.

A St. Johnsville native, Terricola is the granddaughter of Carmella and John Palma Sr., the first restauranteurs at the 17 West Main St. location.

Palmer’s Restaurant, which grew out of her grandfather’s cigar store, was a mainstay in the village for over 30 years, until its sale in 1969 to Snell’s Tavern owners Grace, Bob and later Randy Snell.

Three seems to be a charmed number, as the Snell family owned and operated the establishment for three decades before selling the business to the Pierces in 2009.

Among those present for the grand opening included Terricola’s parents, Josephine “Josie” and Philip Terricola; her sister, Phyllis (Terricola) Johnson; Grace Snell; and Tina Pierce’s mother, Gina. Over the front door is a framed photograph of Tina’s father Cosmo, the restaurant’s namesake.

In commemoration of the event, Linda Terricola presented each of the owners with copies of a framed narrative detailing the history of the site.

As documented in the history, Cosmo’s Bar and Grill opened on Aug. 27.

Additionally, Terricola’s narrative noted that “Tina and Fred have gone full circle with Cosmo’s... bringing back a family-dining atmosphere. Some of their many specialties include huge all-beef burgers, home-made soups... fish and chips, Sicilian goulash and a variety of dinners... Palma and Snell families are excited about the revitalization of this establishment and appreciate all the restoration of equipment to its natural state.”

She said that Fred was born in 1963, the same year that her grandfather died. To laughter, she said that the new owner also “wears his hair the same way.”

Local business owner Phil “Curly” Brown and longtime business owner Robert Failing were among those present for the grand opening.

Failing said, “We’re having a great time. The chili is excellent.”

St. Johnsville resident Jim Richard said, “It’s a place that St. Johnsville really needed, I think.”

Brown said, “I love it. We’ve got the best food in the valley right here.”