Pietro, right, and Grazia Eustachio pose for a photograph in front of their restaurant Oct. 9, 2015. (Photo by Rasy Ran)
Valentine’s Day week will be the final blow out for the Richmond Avenue staple Pietro’s that has been serving up traditional Italian staples since Lyndon B. Johnson was president. Owner Pietro Eustachio broke the news in 2015 that he planned to close his namesake restaurant once the family found the right tenant to take over the building.
There’s no word yet on what business might soon fill the space that’s currently filled with classic red-checkered tablecloths and rich garlic aromas. In an email to Advocate columnist Patti Vinson, who penned a profile on the iconic Italian establishment, Eustachio’s daughter Claudia Powell says, “My parents look forward to spending time their family and grandkids. After 55+ years serving Dallas patrons it was a difficult decision and made with much deliberation. Pietro’s Italian Restaurant will be open through Valentine’s Day week, doors will close Feb. 20.”
Eustachio’s love of family, especially his grandchildren, can be seen in photos all around the restaurant. The building has always been a family affair. He raised his children and the living quarters upstairs, and the business has always been staffed mostly by family members.
As Greenville Avenue became a nightlife hotspot, Pietro’s stood strong as dozens of other restaurants came and went during its 50 years in business. It adds to the ever-growing list of recent restaurant closures in the neighborhood, including Vickery Park, Good 2 Go Taco, Clark Food and Wine and Cow Tipping Creamery.
