A new era is coming to an old Ballard mainstay, with some strings attached. After 15 years serving comfort food in a historic firehouse, the Hi-Life will close September 8 — then be reborn six weeks later as Valentinetti, an Italian restaurant featuring occasional puppet shows.

Hi-Life owner Peter Levy is making the switch partly as a tribute to his wife’s godmother, Aurora Valentinetti, a former University of Washington puppetry professor, who has a Bremerton, WA, puppet museum named after her and was an accomplished home cook as well. The menu will include mostly pizzas and pastas, a departure from the Hi-Life’s more eclectic American comfort food menu.