When Pasquale’s restaurants in Meridian shut down many years ago, loyal customers felt like they had lost a dear friend. The popular Italian restaurant had built a favorable reputation over the years for its food and service.

Those fans have good news. Their long lost friend is back and reopening on Wednesday in one of its former locations at Broadmoor Mart. Owner Mack VanDerMerwe, who has owned a Pasquale’s on 16th Avenue in Laurel since 2009, knows the people who remember the landmark in North Hills will have high expectations. 

“I have a bigger legend to fill here with the Adams family business legend, VanDerMerwe said. “To bring back something so traditional to Meridian is an honor for me.”

VanDerMerwe said he plans to continue the restaurant’s tradition.

“I have the exclusive rights to the garlic bread and we are going to start off with the most requested five sandwiches; the mouth-watering roast beef, stromboli, meatball, ham and cheese and the hoagies.

“I refused to settle for anything but the same meats that have been used,” he said. “I found a supplier who is able to guarantee to give me what I want and what people expect.”

One thing VanDerMerwe is most proud of is having assembled a three-person team to run the new location. Amanda Cromwell is his general manager and  Lindsey Lowe and Brandon Fennel round out that core.

“These are the people who have given up a lot to be here,” he said. “They are my anchors.”

The three employees are leaving the Laurel location to relocate to Meridian and he said he knows the sacrifices they’re making to do this.

“These are the heroes,” VanDerMerwe said.

VanDerMerwe is still hiring servers and dishwashers.

The bar is sub-leased to Corky Null and long-time bartender Casey Parkison.

“We are going to start with a limited menu and grow into a full menu,” VanDerMerwe said. “Amanda is a good listener and will listen to the people coming in to see what they are asking for.”

He’s confident he is starting out with the right items based on what the people of Meridian have mentioned on the company’s Facebook page.

“Over the years, we have had thousands of people asking us, ‘When are you coming to Meridian?’”

VanDerMerwe said he is grateful for the support he has received from the community. Though he signed the lease for the building in November, there have been some setbacks.

“I want to apologize to the people of Meridian for the delay but I knew God would guide my footsteps,” VanDerMerwe said. “I am just a small pawn in God’s plan and I trust God and His timing.” 

The road to Meridian has been a long one for VanDerMerwe. He was born in South Africa and lived there until 1996 before relocating to Key West, Florida.

When asked why he left his native country, he said, “A future. I did not believe I had a future in South Africa.”

He decided on Mississippi for a slower way of life and to get away from the hurricanes that often hit or threatened the Keys.

“I was building a floating house and that year there were five hurricanes. The restaurant in Laurel is a family affair with his mother and sister working with him. All of his family is in the United States, with a sister in Kansas and a brother in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Pasquale’s will be open from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. then reopen from 5-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The phone number is (601) 227-0925.

“I want to thank the people in advance for their support and love,” VanDerMerwe said. “The welcoming from the community has been great.”