After 62 years in business, one of Charlotte’s oldest restaurants has closed

For a restaurant to exist for even a handful of years in Charlotte’s ever-changing food scene is a sign of success.

So when a local restaurant stays open for 62 years, serving generations of families, that’s a real win.

Riccio’s Italian Restaurant, which has been feeding Charlotte for over six decades, announced via an Instagram post on Wednesday that it has closed. “Thank you Charlotte for supporting us over the last 60 years,” the eatery posted unceremoniously, using a black background with simple white text to announce the news.

But there is so much more to Riccio’s story.

Riccio’s Italian Restaurant: Build-your-own pasta, pizza and chicken parm

The second-generation, family owned Italian restaurant was nestled in a corner of Touchstone Village for the past few decades. The no-frills, casual spot was known for its classic dishes like chicken parm, with boneless breast fried and topped with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella. Build-your-own pasta was also on the menu, as were pizza and wings.

Peggy and Jerry Segal, Ricky Segal’s parents, opened the restaurant in 1962. Ricky was 5 at the time, according to Charlotte Observer archives, and he would go on to take the the reigns in 1979.

THE LOGISTICS: The restaurant was on Scaleybark Road in 1962, then moved to the Taipei Express location on Providence Road, then to Middleton Drive, Ricky’s daughter, Elizabeth Segal, told CharlotteFive on Thursday. It closed in 1992-1993 so Ricky could take a break. It reopened in Touchstone Village in 1993, in the former Pizza Village restaurant owned by Bruce Moffett.

Last year, Ricky sold the restaurant to Ivan Chonto, who lives overseas, Elizabeth said. The restaurant continued to be run by longtime employees, some of whom had worked for Ricky for close to 20 years.

Ricky retired and moved to Pawley’s Island last year.

Childhood memories at Riccio’s

Some of Elizabeth’s favorite childhood memories included her time at Riccio’s, she told us. At one point, there were arcade games at the restaurant. “I would always play them after I finished my homework,” she said.

Elizabeth’s first field trip at McAlpine Elementary School was to the restaurant. “All the kids were mesmerized watching my dad throw the pizza dough in the air and spin it on his finger,” she said.

But her all-time favorite memory: “For years, I begged my dad to name an entree for me because he would update the menu every so often, and I remember when he gave me a menu, I had to be about 12 or 13 and I saw Penne Elizabeth at the bottom.”

Her dish was similar to a penne vodka. “Having the (first) bite of my dish was magical — I was so proud and to the very end it was always what I got.”

Back when smoking sections at restaurants were a thing

The restaurant “offers something fairly rare: a chance to feed pizza-lovers some cheap pizza in a very low-key atmosphere, while giving others with more entree-oriented tastes a shot, too,” Observer food writer Helen Schwab wrote in 1996.

Back then, to put it in perspective: Food reviews included things like whether a restaurant had a smoking section or not. At the time of Schwab’s writing, Riccio’s had planned to go full “no smoking” about a week later.

[Have you been to the oldest restaurant in Charlotte? 20 Classic Eats to put on your list.]

A third-generation of the Riccio’s family gets a job

In 2005, during her teenage years, Elizabeth started working at the restaurant. She needed gas money, of course.

“My grandfather would come back to visit from Florida and be in the dining room on Friday nights. I would be working in the front, my grandfather talking to all the customers and my dad cooking ... it was incredibly special.”

She told us she was sad to see the restaurant close. “We were so lucky to have such a tenured staff — and of course, our guests. Whether they met my grandfather, dad or myself, we really appreciate everything the community has provided us.”

Elizabeth had her last Penne Elizabeth at the restaurant in June. But there is one silver lining: She knows how to make it herself now.

Memories at the Charlotte classic spot

Regulars also had fond memories of years of going to Riccio’s. Many shared memories in the comments on the restaurant’s Instagram post Thursday morning:

• “I worked there in my early 20s. I still dream about the flourless chocolate torte — I think a lady named Donna used to make them?” wrote Rebecca Adler.

• “I’m so sorry; we love Riccio’s and have been patrons since the Myers Park location to the South Charlotte location since 1980,” said Elaine Reames Walters.

• “So sad! And yes still miss Tanya and Ricky. Been going for 20 yrs. Best blue cheese dressing ever! Can’t someone post that recipe?” asked Stacy Keefer.

Riccio’s Italian Restaurant

Location: 9213 Baybrook Ln Charlotte, NC 28277 (now closed)

Neighborhood: Touchstone Village

Instagram: @ricciositalian

Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.