THUNDER BAY -- After a decade in business, the owners of an Italian restaurant in Thunder Bay's north core have decided to close.
DeLuca's, at Cumberland and Pearl Streets, will serve its last meal on Oct. 25.
Ted DeLuca says it's been a good run but he wants to spend more time with his grandchildren.
In an interview with tbnewswatch.com, DeLuca recalled how he and his wife took a risk when they started up 10 years ago.
"It was like rolling the dice. 'Either we're gonna make some money or we're gonna lose our shirt,' I thought. People thought I was crazy."
DeLuca said "it all turned out to be good. The customers and our suppliers were great."
He said he's leaving the business with fond memories of serving family gatherings and helping people celebrate engagements, weddings, births and baptisms.
DeLuca noted, though, that running a restaurant means lots of hard work and long hours, and most restaurants fail within their first year.
The industry in Thunder Bay is extremely competitive, he said.
"There's lots of good ones, and everyone gets a piece of the pie. It's a tough business to make work."
DeLuca's was known for serving food made from scratch on-site.
The good news for local diners is that another operator will take over the site and set up a new restaurant.
Customers can expect to see the familiar face of DeLuca's wife, Julia, on the premises, as she'll stay on to participate in the new venture.
