Italian eatery closing as U.S. tariffs curb customer spending: Owner

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Printed Apr 22, 2025 • Final up to date 31 minutes in the past • 2 minute learn

Bocconcini proprietor Radu Rotariu was photographed contained in the Byron eatery on April 21, 2025. Mike Hensen/ The London Free Press

A beloved restaurant in southwest London’s Byron space is closing as a consequence of a “excellent storm” of U.S. tariffs and a must downsize, its proprietor says.

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The upscale Italian eatery, Bocconcini, situated at Boler Street and Southdale Street West, will probably be serving its final clients on April 27 after six years in enterprise.

“I’m attempting to downsize a bit. It’s bittersweet, extra bitter than candy,” stated proprietor Radu Rotariu, who’s additionally a associate in Five87 Bistro, which is situated simply east of downtown on Oxford Road.

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The closure of the restaurant at 1140 Southdale Rd. was brought on by numerous components, he stated.

“The price of dwelling, and now the tariffs, as a result of persons are very scared. They (clients) modified the sample of spending. They used to come back each month and spend $200 to have a meal. However proper now, all people’s watching the finances,” he stated.

The primary-time restaurant proprietor moved into the constructing in 2019, and working an eatery with none expertise was not a straightforward journey, he stated.

A former electrical engineer, Rotariu stated working within the restaurant business was an entire 180-degree change in his profession. He discovered by making errors, he stated. “I actually loved it.”

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, adopted by different unpredictable modifications, from good ones, corresponding to opening Five87 Bistro at 587 Oxford St. E. with Romanian chef Sebastian Dumitru in 2024, to dangerous ones like inflation and “loopy tariffs.”

The announcement about its closure on Fb garnered about 50 feedback.

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“This makes me so unhappy. I really like your meals! We’re coming one final time earlier than you shut,” posted Vanessa Vecchio-Tamasi.

This month, the proprietor of one other London eatery, The Bag Woman, introduced it’s on the market.

In March, Italian restaurant Dolcetto transitioned to new possession after 13 years below Dino DiFruscia. He couldn’t be reached on Monday for extra data on the change.

Rotariu, who rented the constructing, hopes one other restaurateur takes over the house.

“It’s a battle,” he stated. “There are too many eating places, and small companies like mine had been actually hit arduous. I’ll spend extra time on the bistro and with the household.

“I need to thank all the shoppers, particularly the Byron group, who had been fantastic, and it was a extremely good restaurant, and folks actually loved it.”

Bocconcini is open Monday to Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. to eight p.m. Prospects with present playing cards can redeem them on the restaurant or at Five87 Bistro.

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