Beloved Italian restaurant DiCicco's closing one of its Fresno restaurants

The DiCicco's Italian Restaurant at Blackstone and Barstow avenues has closed permanently.

The owner posted the news on the restaurant's Facebook page Tuesday.

Owner Carlo DiCicco said he just finished being treated for cancer about three months ago and wanted to lighten his workload.

He also owns the Oakhurst DiCicco's at 40282 Highway 41. That one will remain open and DiCicco said that restaurant is building a bar area.

The longtime Italian restaurant has several other locations in the Valley, but most are owned and run by different members of the same family.

The Facebook post about the closing encouraged customers to visit other nearby DiCicco's restaurants owned by his cousins, including the one at Shaw Avenue and Van Ness Boulevard, and First Street and Shaw Avenue.

The closing restaurant was started by DiCicco's father 44 years ago. DiCicco took it over when he was 27.

Customers reacted with sadness to the post, with many saying the Blackstone and Barstow location was their favorite of all the DiCicco's restaurants.

DiCicco said he appreciates all their customers.

"We’re just very grateful," he said. "It was a great 44 years."

This story was originally published May 2, 2018 at 12:07 PM with the headline "Beloved Italian restaurant DiCicco's closing one of its Fresno restaurants."