Joe’s Pizza and Pasta still serving north of I-30
Joe’s Pizza and Pasta, owned by Rizah “Ricky” Karaliu, is no longer operating in downtown Texarkana, but his Richmond Road location is doing just fine. Karaliu has recently been able to reopen his dining room. It had been closed, like all others, as a pandemic control measure.
But this reopening didn’t include his corner shop in front of the famous federal courthouse downtown. He had other priorities to consider.
“I decided to close up the downtown Joe’s to free up time,” he said. “I have a young family now and that takes a lot of time as well. I still own the downtown property and am renting it to those who will run a new place downtown. But the Joe’s on Richmond is the only current Joe’s location.”
A diner is set to open soon in the former downtown Joe’s location.
Karaliu also still owns the Paragon — a bar attached to the east side of his downtown slot — and rents out that property to the current establishment operators.
Karaliu admits he will miss the downtown location.
“The downtown scene is great,” he said. “One thing I loved was having lots of firefighters and police among my regulars. I’ve been in downtown Texarkana for seven years. I love it there. And who knows? I might return. We
“One thing I loved (about the downtown location) was having
lots of firefighters and police among my
regulars.”
— Rizah “Ricky” Karaliu
will see in the next few years.”
Karaliu is grateful for his customers at the Richmond Road location, though. They were key in getting Joe’s through the shutdown.
“The COVID situation did not hurt us much, business-wise, as our customers brought us brisk business through our order-out,” Karaliu said. “With the dining room open, we are just getting back to doing what we do.”
Karaliu also credits his family. He and his wife, Nora, have been married for six years and have four young children.
(Joe’s Pizza and Pasta is located at 2700 Richmond Road, No. 17. Phone: 903-306-2004 and -2005.)