""It was a difficult decision to do that," she said. "But it was more of a business decision, because we do have the other two restaurants in the area.""
""On the same block of North Beach, the Florese family also owns Italian restaurants Mona Lisa Mare E Monti and Steps of Rome. (They also have a fourth restaurant in the Bayview, the Old Clam House.) Part of Filomena and Maurizio's decision to close the Mona Lisa Restaurant was to begin the transition of their mini-restaurant empire to their sons, Osilio and Salvatore Florese, who are already involved in their other businesses. Osilio previously told SFGATE that he wants to turn Steps of Rome into \"the In-N-Out of pizza.\"""
""Filomena and Maurizio first took over the Mona Lisa from a family friend in 1997, serving Calabrian dishes as well as Italian American classics. They decorated the restaurant with neoclassical statues wearing motorcycle helmets, a massive mural depicting the \"Creation of Adam,\" and framed photos of celebrities who visited. Filomena said they plan to move all the restaurant's quirky memorabilia over to the private dining room of Mona Lisa Mare E Monti, as well as some of its menu.""
Mona Lisa Restaurant in North Beach will close after 46 years, with its final service scheduled for Friday. Owners Filomena and Maurizio Florese cite rising expenses and plans for retirement as the primary reasons for closing. The family also owns Mona Lisa Mare E Monti, Steps of Rome, and the Old Clam House. The closure initiates a planned transition of the restaurants to their sons, Osilio and Salvatore, and includes moving Mona Lisa's memorabilia and some menu items to Mona Lisa Mare E Monti. All employees have been offered positions at the other family restaurants.
Read at SFGATE
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