In the late 1970s, Augie Tantalo occasionally worked at The Willows restaurant on West Washington Street which was owned at the time by his father Louis Tantalo.

Now, approximately 35 years later, Augie Tantalo has become involved with the restaurant again by creating an oil painting of Bradford’s landmarks to be displayed in the business. 

“History is repeating itself,” Augie Tantalo said while delivering the painting to the restaurant’s new owners Tom Cole and his sister Maryanne Cole. As the artist unwrapped the painting and revealed its contents, Maryanne Cole showed her delight by exclaiming, “It is so nice.”

Tom Cole said the plan to have Augie Tantalo, who now resides in Arizona, commissioned to create the painting came about rather coincidentally. He said Augie Tantalo was visiting the restaurant last year and reconnected with the Coles, who are old friends of his family.

“When I found out (Augie Tantalo) was an accomplished artist in Arizona we started talking about commissioning a painting to capture some of the icons of the Bradford area,” Tom Cole explained. “That’s part of why we opened the restaurant to begin with, to bring back a place with great food, locally sourced ingredients and a fun environment.”

Tom Cole said after they purchased the 60-year-old business, they renovated the facility but kept the same layout. 

“We wanted something that brought back the good old days,” Tom Cole said of the painting. “We told him to capture the icons and history of Bradford, and that was as much input as we provided.”

The painting features the trademarks of Zippo Manufacturing Co., W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery Co., Kendall Motor Oil (American Refining Group), Bradford’s Old City Hall and The Bradford Era, along with former businesses, Guy Colella Bakery and Casey Cole Chevrolet. Also serving as a beautiful backdrop are Willow Bay, located not far from the restaurant, and the seasonal changes found in the Allegheny National Forest, which the business is located in.

Tom Cole said Casey Cole Chevrolet was included in the painting as the business was owned by his and his sister’s late father. Augie Tantalo said he included Guy Colella Bakery in the collage-style painting as his uncle had worked at the popular bakery that once fragranced downtown Bradford with the aroma of fresh-baked breads and pastries. The artist said The Era was added as his mother Alpha Husted had once worked as a journalist for the publishing company. On another note of coincidence, Augie Tantalo’s nephew Cody Tantalo helped make The Willows sign which is located over the front entrance of the business. The younger Tantalo helped his fellow students make the sign in a carpentry class at Bradford Area High School several years ago. 

The Willows, which is also something of a landmark and destination point in the community, has been owned by the Goodman family, the Tantalo family, Roger and Sherrie Rhoades, Doug Yohe, Jack Hull and the Coles, who have run it for the past year and a half.

As for his own background, Augie Tantalo said he moved “out West” in 1977 and is now a junior high art teacher in Gilbert, Ariz. He also teaches community art classes for adults, has won several awards and has been commissioned to do numerous art pieces, with his work found across the country. 

Augie Tantalo said prints of the painting created for The Willows are available and can be obtained by contacting him by email at augiesart529@aol.com.