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Marc and Michael Del Pietro (pictured at left with their mother Mary Rose), co-owners of both Kilkenney's Irish Pub and Luciano's have announced that both restaurants will be closing. The former is news, the latter may come as no surprise.
In January, Relish reported that Luciano's suffered extensive water damage from a high pressure pipe break. At the time, the brothers had planned to repair the damage and reopen. Then practicality may have set in: rental rates along that stretch of Carondelet Av. are some of the highest in the city, and the Luciano's lease expires next month. Plus. both brothers have shown interest in expanding to other areas, among them Edwardsville, Ill. This month Michael Del Pietro will open Tavolo V in the East Loop, and after that, a Sugo's Spaghetteria in Overland Park, Kan. The Luciano's space will again be available once repairs are completed.
Kilkenney's may close as early as mid-April, according to Michael Del Pietro, to make way for a Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe, a regional deli franchise and the third in the StL metro area. Several different franchisees control the St. Louis stores, but Relish understands that the Clayton franchisee is also on track to open yet another store in the former SanSai space in the Kirkwood Commons next door to recently-opened Pazzo's Pizzeria, another Michael Del Pietro restaurant. More as we know it.
