Beloved Italian Restaurant Closed After More Than 60 Years
For more than six decades, DeVinci’s Italian Restaurant was a fixture in suburban Birmingham, AL.
But on July 13, the restaurant's owner, John Day, announced on Instagram that the family, "with a heavy heart," was closing its doors.
“After 64 amazing years in business, our journey comes to an end," Day wrote. "We have had the privilege of serving generations of customers and have developed deep friendships over the years."
The post continued that the landmark building Homewood, an affluent suburb of Birmingham, is being sold to a new owner who "shares the same love for food and people that we have given to our patrons."
"We will miss you all. Thank you for the years of patronage and hope to see you again before we say goodbye," Day wrote.
DeVinci's last day of operation was July 13.
Dozens of people thanked the Day family on social media for their 64 years of service and asked for "just one more meal."
"Can we get a recipe book in the future?" one poster wrote. "My 79-year-old father loves your food. Would love to have a signed copy or maybe a menu, please ???? Thank you for your amazing food and some delicious memories with my father."
Another said: "No ???????????? going to have to get the pasta, Cassandra at least 5 more times before then (referring to the sudden closing date."
In January, Restaurant Business Online reported that there was a wave of independent restaurant operators who closed their doors in the second half of 2024.
The closures were nationwide, stretching from Los Angeles to Miami to Oklahoma, with operators saying the challenging business environment for their decision to cut losses and call it quits.
They pointed to the ongoing obstacles since the pandemic: high food and labor costs, a changed consumer, and hikes in rent, according to the magazine.