Longtime Bellmore restaurant Piccolo Ristorante has permanently closed its doors. The restaurant shared the closure announcement on social media and bid farewell to the community. The restaurant served its final meal on July 3, ending a 47-year run in Bellmore.
Piccolo Ristorante Ends a Chapter in Bellmore
Piccolo Ristorante was a family-owned authentic Italian restaurant located at 2770 Sunrise Highway in Bellmore. The restaurant was known for serving traditional Italian cuisine, including signature 9-inch pizzas and classic pasta dishes.
Ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, the restaurant announced its closure in a Facebook post. The restaurant thanked its customers, staff, volunteers, and the whole community for supporting it over the years.
“No words can truly express our gratitude for the decades of loyalty, friendship, encouragement, and love you have given us,” said the team. “The memories we have shared, the relationships we have built, and the community we have been blessed to serve will remain with us forever.”
The post did not provide a reason for the closure. However, according to a Hoodline report, Tom Valenti Jr., the restaurant’s owner, said the closure decision was driven by a “myriad of reasons.”
Tom said, “We were hoping to have the last-minute victory like the Knicks, but it just didn’t work out for us.”
Legacy of the Neighborhood Favorite
Founded in 1979, Piccolo Ristorante became a longtime fixture in Bellmore, earning a loyal following for its Italian cuisine and welcoming atmosphere. Operated by the Valenti family, the restaurant began its journey as Piccolo Pizza and Pasta.
Over the years, it grew into a large restaurant with private rooms to host special occasions. The restaurant received the Prestigious Roy Weinman Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce in 2020.
The team also announced an agreement with Gusto Divino in Seaford. Following Piccolo Ristorante’s closure, Gusto Divino in Seaford is now accepting the restaurant’s remaining gift cards.
Piccolo Ristorante’s closure marks the end of a restaurant that served the Bellmore community for nearly five decades.
