CATCHING UP WITH ... The Old Spaghetti Factory

Amy R. Spurgeon

NEWPORT BEACH -- The next time you park free of charge in the valet lot

at The Old Spaghetti Factory on Newport Boulevard, send your regards to

Gus Dussin. The founder of the giant pasta purveyor insisted on it.

In 1969, Dussin’s vision of selling spaghetti at a good price caught on

quickly. It seemed people liked his ingredients for success: affordable

pasta with all the fixings -- bread, salad and dessert.

The Old Spaghetti Factory’s origins are traced to Portland, Ore. The

family-run chain consists of 34 restaurants nationwide.

Up until four or five years ago, the company used to purchase and restore

landmark buildings in order to use them as a restaurant. The buildings

are furnished with antiques, including hutches, chandeliers and wall

hangings.

The building that houses the Newport restaurant was constructed during

the Roaring ‘20s at a time when Los Angeles residents were flocking to

the harbor for vacations. The building -- then a dinner theater -- served

as the town’s hot nightspot for visitors.

Later uses of the building included a car dealership and a sailmaking

factory.

In 1975, the Spaghetti Factory took over.

Tourists and residents alike have enjoyed spaghetti with meat sauce,

zesty sausage and the meat-lover’s treat year-round at the 420-seat

business.

Some might be curious as to how the restaurant, which does not advertise

through traditional means, has become so successful.

“Quite honestly, it’s pure word of mouth,” said general manager Wade

Dissmore.

The restaurant peaks during the summertime with service to more than

1,300 people on weekends. Winter months are a bit calmer, with about 900

guests on the weekends.

Despite the restaurant’s long-term success, owners were faced with one

minor problem over the summer: termites. The problem was not severe

enough to require tenting, but the insects were dealt with immediately.

“Someone inspects the building every month because it is a very old wood

building,” Dissmore said. “When something needs to be repaired, it’s

repaired.”

Dissmore said future plans for the family-oriented business is to stay

the course. Consistency, good food and good prices will keep the

restaurant plugging away into the next century, he says.

Though the restaurant does not belong to the Newport Beach Chamber of

Commerce, plans of future involvement have not been ruled out by

Dissmore. Serving as the Spaghetti Factory’s general manager for only

five months, he said just getting to know the area has kept his plate

full.