Pasquale’s Pizza and Pasta in Gardendale is having its first change in management in 37 years.

Loyal Pasquale’s customers may know Bob Braswell, who has passed most of the management responsiblities to his niece, Patti Cardwell.

Cardwell previously owned a Pasquale’s in Hoover, but business was slow, possibly because of the economy, and she was forced to close the restaurant.

Braswell and Cardwell are part of a tradition in their family of owning Pasquale’s franchises; Cardwell has a cousin, and aunt and another uncle that have all owned a restaurant bearing the Pasquale’s name.

Although the restaurant is technically part of a chain, the owners, at least in the southeast, have no idea who currently owns the franchise. All of Cardwell’s family buys their ingredients from the same grocery company, which is largely reason why the restaurants are similar.

Cardwell has done some rearranging at Pasquale’s, and is planning some remodeling. Although she’s keeping many of the classic decoration at the restaurant, like the wrought-iron booths, she’s replaced the chairs and some of the table televisions.