Bella’s Sicilian Ristorante, a fixture of downtown Geneva for nearly seven years, has closed its doors for good. The owners announced the closure on the restaurant’s Facebook page, citing a combination of personal reasons, the demands of running multiple businesses, and the impending end of their lease.
The heartfelt message reflected on the restaurant’s origins and journey. “What started out as Tomas’s dream from a trip to Sicily… morphed into a place where Richard wasn’t willing to let close because his kids loved hearing Tomas sing,” the post said, detailing how three friends—Tomas, Richard, and Mike—turned their vision into a thriving downtown eatery.
Over the years, Bella’s Sicilian Ristorante weathered challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and served thousands of locals and tourists. Owners took pride in their community involvement, noting their charitable efforts under the banner “Bellas Gives Back,” which raised over $30,000 for various causes.
While the Geneva location is no longer in operation, Bella’s Seneca Lake Steakhouse in Border City remains open and will honor gift cards issued by the downtown restaurant. The steakhouse plans to incorporate fan-favorite elements from the Sicilian ristorante, including a weekly Italian night, an expanded menu, and live singing.
“We wanted to go out on a quiet, reserved note… with good memories of something we never thought would become the juggernaut it did,” the owners wrote. They encouraged continued support for local businesses in Geneva and expressed hope that the space they vacated would soon host another dream.
For inquiries, customers can contact Bella’s via email at [email protected].
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