By Alesha Capone
After more than 20 years, DiCaprio Family Restaurant will shut the doors to its Hoppers Crossing eatery later this month.
The popular restaurant has been forced to vacate its rented premises at 88 Derrimut Road, after the landlord sold the site to developers who plan to build a petrol station on the site.
DiCaprio’s last day of operation is slated for June 13.
However, DiCaprio’s owner and manager Elie Touma said this was not the end of the road for him and his team.
Mr Touma said he was planning to open a new venue in Wyndham later this year, possibly in August or September.
Mr Touma said his long-serving staff included a chef who has worked at the restaurant for 15 years and a waiter who has been there for between 12 to 14 years.
Some of these employees will come across to work at his new venue too.
Mr Touma said he already has customers booking in for a meal June 13, although this will depend on what happens with the state’s COVID lockdown.
He said plenty of people have been saying they will miss DiCaprio’s once it shuts down.
“Customers have been very supportive, they know I’m closing, offering support and I’m very thankful,” Mr Touma said.
“They say, ‘We love you, we want you to stay here,’ and ‘Let us know where you’re going to be, we are happy to follow you’.”
Mr Touma said DiCaprio’s has always been involved with the community, helping out organisations such as the Rotary Club of Hoppers Crossing and football clubs with food and vouchers.
“Without the public, without the community, we couldn’t do this,” he said.
He said some of his customers have been attending the restaurant for 10 to 20 years, some now with children of their own.
Mr Touma said he was planning to invite his loyal customers to a party, to say thank you for their years of support, if the pandemic allowed him to.
Mr Touma said he hoped the guests would finish the remaining alcohol at DiCaprio’s, so that he did not have to take it all home with him.
Details: www.facebook.com/dicapriohoppers
