Villa Romana, est. 1955, will close this weekend. Photo: Facebook/Villa Romana
Villa Romana would have celebrated its 60th anniversary in April 2015, but the Accardo family has decided to close the family-owned Italian-American stalwart this weekend. The last day of business will be Sunday, July 20.
Owners Antonio Accardo and wife Giulia are in their 70s, and are finally ready to retire.
“Yeah, he’s calling it quits,” says Accardo’s son, Antonio, Jr. “My sister and I, who are the two children, have our careers and can’t keep the restaurant going … We made the decision to close down.”Accardo, Jr. grew up in the restaurant, as did his own kids. So even though there’s a bittersweet tinge to the closing of Villa Romana, the whole family is looking forward to spending more time together, he says.
All week, regular customers have been streaming in to the corner of Ninth and Irving, giving the elder Antonio hugs behind the counter: “Every day has been exceptionally busy, with a long line of longtime customers coming for their last meal,” says Accardo, Jr.
The Accardo family hasn’t decided what to do with the space yet.
Villa Romana: 731 Irving St, at Ninth Ave, San Francisco. (415) 731-2280 or villaromanasf.com.
