‘We’ll go with heads held high’
Luciano Ristorante is saying farewell to customers as the business prepares to close this weekend before being demolished as part of Sunderland City Council regeneration plans.
The ‘much-loved’ restaurant on High Street West in Sunderland will close on Saturday,afteroperatingfromthe same building for 30 years.
Owners Habib and Masoud Farahi say they are ‘gutted’ to close their doors but are ‘proud’ of what they have achieved.
Twenty members of staff will lose their jobs as a result of the closure.
Thedemolitionofthebuilding will take place in preparation for the city’s new Culture House.
Habib said: “We are absolutely gutted and really sad to seethebusinessclose,wehave seen generations of families grow up here and we admire the support of the people in Sunderland.
"Luciano’s is a one-off, it’s uniqueandithasbuiltastrong bond with customers and nobody wants to see this place go, we love the customers and I’m sorrywecouldn’tsecureanew
place.”
Staff were hoping to relocate to units under the new hotel at Keel Square but there are currently no plans to reopen elsewhere in Sunderland. Thousands of customers have signed a petition urging councilbossestofindtherestaurant a new home in the city centre.
Habibadded:“Ifwefindthe rightlocationthenwe’llreopen and we will come back bigger and better, we are so proud of what we have achieved and we willgooutwithasmilewithour heads held high.
"Wewantpeopletoremember the happy times and the memories over the years, our customers have supported us through the ups and downs and we can’t thank them
enough.”
Customers can dine at Luciano for the final time until Saturday before the business vacates the premises on Monday.
William, 76, and Vivienne Rogers, 72, who have been regulars at Luciano since the restaurant opened, say they are ‘gutted’ to see the business close.
Vivienne said: “Everyone is so friendly here and we’ve been for all sort of celebrations, wedding anniversaries, birthdays, it’s such a special place and we’re gutted to see it shut."
William added: “This place is the heart of Sunderland so it’s going to be a huge loss to the city.”