57-Year-Old Paolo's Closes Doors

A San Jose restaurant that’s been serving food since 1958 closed its doors Saturday, restaurant officials said.

Paolo’s Restaurant closed its location near Guadalupe River Park, where it had been for the past 24 years, because its landlord chose not to renew the restaurant’s lease, company officials said. Paolo’s served regional Italian food, with a seasonal menu that blended tradition and newer dishes, according to the company’s website.

“We want to express our deepest gratitude to our family and friends, clients and partners who have supported and encouraged us, as well as our employees who have so greatly contributed to Paolo’s success since 1958,” the company wrote on its website.

Paolo’s drew a number of celebrities over the years, including Joe DiMaggio, Barbra Streisand, and Eleanor Roosevelt, according to the restaurant’s website.

“It’s true, we lost our lease. Ironically this was shaping up to be one of the strongest years we’d had since the 90s,” management wrote on its Facebook page. “Just found out today our landlord is putting in a ‘game room’ with video games, foos ball and ping pong for the 20-something tenants working in the tech start ups in our building. Plus a self-serve cafeteria and morning coffee bar/wine bar by day. Really? I’m speechless.”

Bay City News contributed to this report.

Photo via Paolo’s Restaurant on Facebook