Phoenixville's Beloved Franco Ristorante To Close After 33 Years

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — Franco Ristorante, a longtime Phoenixville establishment, will close its doors for good after decades in business.

The beloved Italian eatery has been a staple on 226 Bridge Street for 33 years, offering simple, unpretentious digs, a welcoming atmosphere, and a wide range of options from pizza and pasta and strombolis to seafood and chicken dishes.

The owners of the restaurant, husband and wife Francesco LoPresti and Gail LoPresti, have decided to retire. Their last day of business will be Oct. 16.

"Our family restaurant is not just a restaurant but a home," their daughter Sabrina wrote in a heartfelt tribute online. "Every single dish made with love and joy."

She highlighted not just the love for the community and relationships with customers which her parents had forged over the years, but also Franco's charitable endeavors, including donating dinners to a range of local organizations, from Kiwanis, Orion, Jaycees, and St. Mary's Church to Phoenixville High School, the Red Cross, and 9/11 first responders.

"To everyone at Franco’s, please know what a difference you have made to so many here in town," the Phoenixville Business Alliance said in a statement. "Phoenxiville loves you and we all wish you the very best on your new journey."

While Franco's can't be replaced, there is no word yet on what might replace the building.