A longtime Italian restaurant in downtown Davenport that has fed thousands of pizza and pasta fans and at least one U.S. president has announced that it is closing its doors.
Antonella’s Ristorante & Pizza will close its location at 112 W. Third St. in the heart of downtown. Sunday, Feb. 13, will be its final day in business.
“We very much appreciate all of our customers,” John Sgro, Antonella’s owner, told the QCBJ on Tuesday, Feb. 8. “I hope they all will continue visiting us at our second location.”
Antonella’s Pizzeria II at 421 W. River Drive in the Freight House building will remain open for business.
On Tuesday, Antonella’s announced on its Facebook page: “We wanted to share that we will be closing this location starting Monday, February 14. We are not closing our business, the owner of the building would simply like to do something else with this space.”
In the interview, Mr. Sgro added that it was the right time for him to make the business change. Business has been “up and down” for the past few years and he has faced problems getting enough employees for his business. He added that he has also faced some health issues in recent years.
The upcoming change is the latest chapter for a restaurant that has a long history in Davenport. Antonella’s opened its first Davenport site on Kimberly Road in 2001. The business moved to its current location in 2005, Mr. Sgro said.
Antonella’s was in the national spotlight for a brief moment on Oct. 24, 2012, when President Obama visited Davenport during his re-election campaign and made an unannounced stop for a meal and visit in the restaurant.
Antonella’s II opened in the Freight House several years ago.
