Popular Bellmore Italian Eatery Piccolo Ristorante Closes After 47 Years in Business
Popular Bellmore Italian eatery Piccolo Ristorante has announced that they are permanently closing their doors for business after 47 years, citing “a myriad of reasons” for the unfortunate decision.
Owner Tom Valenti Jr. noted in local interviews that he was being forced to “reconsider what we’re going to be doing” and only made the decision to close at the very last minute, announcing on Thursday, July 2 that the restaurant’s last day serving it’s customers would, in fact, be Friday, July 3.
Piccolo first opened in 1979 at 2770 Sunrise Highway by Valenti’s father and mother, Tom Sr. and Donna, and later expanded to a second location in Carle Place in 2009; however, that endeavor proved to be unsuccessful, closing a mere three years afterwards. But the Bellmore location endured and was a popular family dining spot for many years.
The Italian restaurant posted the heartbreaking news on their website and social media pages, with a graphic thanking their staff and customers “Who became a part of our extended Piccolo family, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
“No words can truly express our gratitude for the decades of loyalty, friendship, encouragement, and love that you have given us,” the announcement continued. ” The memories we have shared, the relationships we have built, in the community we have been blessed to serve will remain with us forever.”
The announcement goes on to note that despite the closure of the restaurant, they “hope that there is still the beginning of a new chapter yet to be written.”
Gusto Divino Trattoria, another Italian restaurant located down the road at 3930 Sunrise Highway in Seaford, has reportedly agreed to honor outstanding Piccolo gift cards for the time being.
