After serving homemade Italian cuisine for nearly four decades, Lunardi’s Restaurant, 102 E Kimberly Rd, Davenport, announced it will permanently close its doors this weekend, ending a 37-year run that has made it a favorite dining destination in the Quad Cities.
In a message shared with customers, owners Paul and Brooke Lunardi said the restaurant’s final day of operation will be Sunday, June 14, or sooner if it sells out of food.
The family-owned business first opened on June 5, 1989, when founder Terry Lunardi set out to bring made-from-scratch Italian cooking to the community. His nephew, Paul Lunardi, worked alongside him from the beginning, starting as a dishwasher before becoming a cook, manager and eventually taking over as owner in 2009.
The owners said rising food costs and ongoing operational challenges had already prompted plans to retire later this summer. They had intended to keep the restaurant open through July 26 before stepping away from the business.
However, they said those plans changed after what they described as a third-party insurance clerical error during Iowa’s new computer database migration resulted in the erroneous cancellation of the restaurant’s liquor license. Because the issue cannot be resolved until local officials meet in July, Lunardi’s said it is legally unable to serve wine or spirits.
Rather than operate without alcoholic beverage service, Paul Lunardi said he chose to close the restaurant on the family’s own terms, saying he did not want to compromise the dining experience or the standards established by his uncle and maintained throughout his 17 years as owner.
“This is our chance to thank the loyal customers who became our extended family and the dedicated staff members who stood by us through thick and thin,” the owners said in their farewell message.
Lunardi’s will be open for its final weekend from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, or until all food has been sold.
The owners are encouraging longtime patrons to stop by one last time to share memories and enjoy their favorite dishes as the restaurant closes the final chapter on a family legacy that began in 1989.
“Thank you for letting our family serve yours since 1989,” the statement concluded. “Let’s pack the dining room, finish this beautiful chapter strong and make these last days unforgettable.”
