Door Closes on Dino's, Another Might Open

Dino's has closed its doors on 16th Street, but could reopen at another location.

After nearly 60 years of serving Racine, the iconic restaurant stopped serving earlier this month, and the Dominici family - Dino Dominici opened Dino's in 1958 - had hoped an investor would purchase the building from Tri City National Bank.

Had the investor - described to Patch as a family friend - come through, the plan was to lease the space for the restaurant.

But, now, the owners of Twins Food Mart right next door have purchased the building, The Journal Times reports, and plan to use the space for storage.

Bashar Qedan, manager and co-owner of Twins, told the newspaper that buying the building was a strategic move to hold any potential competitors at bay. The Qedans also purchased the home on Phillips Ave. and are renting it out.

Still, Dino's could undergo a resurrection of sorts in a new location.

"The family and investors have been looking at new spaces and we have an offer to purchase on that building," a spokesperson for the Dominici family told Patch Monday. "We hope to be open in 60 to 90 days in a better location that is more centrally located in the city."

To help keep customers informed, Dino's phone numbers will stay the same, and voicemail messages will provide news about the restaurant's future.

"There will be a message playing to keep customers updated with news," the spokesperson said. "As we get closer to opening, we'll start an advertising campaign on social media."

The family is grateful for all the support from the community and they want people to know that the investor also comes with help to get and keep the restaurant viable.

"We lost our building, but we didn't lose our business," Patch was told. "The investor is bringing a lot of good tools to the table to help us be successful. It will be good for everyone at the end of the day."