After its final lunch service yesterday, town’s ever-popular and cherished Da Nello closed its doors for good.
‘It hasn’t really hit me yet,’ said Tim Vidamour, co-owner and head chef, who made the decision to step away from the business, along with his business partner, co-owner Manuel Teixeira, who is retiring.
‘I just know I have a very busy final service ahead and I’m focusing on that. I get a little bit emotional when I think about it – I’ve been here 46 years, since I was 19.
‘The customers have become my friends, and I’m so sorry to anyone we were unable to fit in over these past couple of weeks. It was a very quick and hard decision. But sometimes good things come to an end.’
Mr Vidamour said it has now been decided who will take over the restaurant.
‘All I can tell you is he is a youngish chap, he’s local and he’s got his wife with him,’ he said.
‘It’s going to be somebody else starting a new adventure, like we did 46 years ago. And I’m looking forward to seeing it. I think it’s great that it’s a local person taking over. It will be something completely new – but he keeps saying “we must pay respect to Da Nello”.’
