Travo Family May Return To Restaurant

Joseph Travo, a venerable Spokane restaurateur who went into retirement and leased out his downtown diner two years ago, might return to cooking for customers within the next two or three months.

“We might go back. We might take a few months to remodel and then start going back to work,” said the former owner of Travos’ Restaurant. He added that his son, Frank Travo, would likely take the helm of the restaurant, 830 W. Sprague.

Marco Polo, a Chinese/American restaurant, has operated at the site since 1993. Travo and his wife, Margaret, are seeking restitution of premises in an order filed this week in Superior Court.

Travo said he ended the restaurant’s lease when owners Tian and Chun Tang could no longer pay rent. The Kent, Wash., couple could not be reached for comment.

The Tang’s bad luck might mean Spokane residents can once again enjoy Travos’ famous homemade clam chowder, spaghetti and homemade candy. The Travo family fed pasta-starved locals for 44 years, from 1949 to 1993.