Caruso’s Italian Restaurant — one of Arizona’s oldest continuously operating family-owned Italian restaurants — is temporarily closed for building repairs.
The building, which is 104 years old and has been Caruso’s spot since the 1930s, took quite a hit from a microburst storm earlier this month. So, after identifying some “structural irregularities,” management decided to shut the restaurant’s doors for a bit.
“The safety and comfort of our staff and customers is our top priority,” said Sal Zagona, President of Caruso’s. “The temporary closure will allow for comprehensive evaluations and necessary repairs to ensure the safety and integrity of the building. Nothing is more important than the safety and comfort of our staff and customers.”
Hang tight, though — it’s said that the repairs shouldn’t take too much time.
“We struggle to find words strong enough to adequately express our gratitude for our loyal customers and staff,” said Ande Motzkin, Vice President of Caruso’s.
Nicasio (Caruso) Zagona opened the restaurant nearly 100 years ago. The interior layout, inviting patio, and many of its food preparation techniques were crafted by Nicasio. Sure, some aspects have been updated over the years, but the family has carefully preserved the restaurant’s original culinary traditions and ambiance.
This isn’t the first storm to put a damper on things.
In February 2023, a big gust of wind knocked down the iconic neon sign. Then, the fine folks at Ignite Sign Art Museum and Cook & Co. Signmakers restored the sign and propped it back up where it was intended to be in April 2024.
Stay tuned for a reopening date.
Caruso’s Italian Restaurant is located at 434 N. Fourth Ave. For more information, visit carusositalian.com and follow Caruso’s on Instagram.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
