After more than four decades in business in San Diego's Normal Height's community, DiMille's Italian restaurant has announced its impending closure.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the closing of DiMille's Italian Restaurant," read the closure announcement from 'The DiMille Brothers'. "This decision comes with a heavy heart and a lot of effort trying to make changes through the COVID pandemic. Due to the current financial restraints from the downfall of COVID, we can no longer maintain operation overhead costs. We want to thank all of our wonderful guests, family, friends and employees for supporting us over the last 43 years. Especially our loyal staff members who stuck with us arm and arm at the heigh of the pandemic continuing to servinv customers with Takeout orders only."
DiMille's Italian restaurant was first founded as a takeout pizzeria by husband-and-wife Dominic and Maria DiAnna in 1978. Named after Maria's maiden name, the business eventually took over the adjoining storefront and evolved into a full-service "red sauce Italian" restaurant. Since the 80s, the business has been owned and operated by brothers Mike and Jim DiAnna, sons of the original founders. The restaurant has gone under two major remodels over the years.
"What began as a little Mom & Pop operation, and a goal to provide high quality homemade Italian food, allowed us to grow into an establishment that has welcomed thousands of guests and employed hundreds of people over the years," continue the closure announcement. "We are extremely humbled by the amount of patrons who have embraced our foods in a family restaurant environment. This has allowed us to succeed over the last 43 years which is an accomplishment we can all be proud of. None of it would have happened without all the support of the community and staff through the years.
DiMille's will serve its last meals on Saturday, October 9. The longtime DiMille's property at 3492 Adams Avenue has been listed for sale at the asking price of $4.5 million for some time and is listed as "in escrow." It is believed a developer is in the process of purchasing the property with plans to turn it into residential housing.
For more information about DiMille's Italian Restaurant, visit dimilles.com.
