Yacovelli's (407 Dunn Road, Florissant; 314-839-1000) is set to close at the end of the year after almost a century in St. Louis. The 95-year-old restaurant announce the retirement of its owners this week in a press release. Yacovelli's will be officially closed on January 1, 2015.
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The family-owned restaurant was founded near Washington University by John Yacovelli, the current owner's grandfather, in 1919 after he first came to America in 1911 from San Salvatori, Italy. He retired in 1950, and his son Dewey Yacovelli started a new Yacovelli's in Kirkwood. Finally, Jack and Jan Yacovelli took over in 1977 and moved it to its current location.
To celebrate the family legacy, Yacovelli's will be offering specials every day from now until close, a Thanksgiving food drive to benefit a Florissant food pantry, a last dinner/dance on December 27 and a New Year's Eve party to say a final farewell.
"This has been a difficult decision, but after nine decades of running this successful restaurant business in multiple locations around the St. Louis region, the family felt the time was right to close out this chapter and enjoy retirement," Jack Yacovelli said in a statement.
Follow Yacovelli's on Facebook for updates on special events and menus before the restaurant closes for good.
"We've been blessed with so many loyal customers and staff members who feel like family over the years," Jan Yacovelli said in a statement, "and we're hoping they will be able to join us as we count down our last 95 days in business."
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