Video: Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina opens in Cape Coral
Cape Coral’s first food truck park has 10 on-site food trucks, a huge open-air bar, inviting pavilions, live music and much more
Leone’s, a beloved Cape Coral Italian market and pizzeria, closed its doors after 47 years of business.Owner Lisa Leone announced the closure on Facebook, citing personal health reasons.The restaurant was known for its homemade recipes and loyal customer base.
Tucked away in what was once a lumberyard off Viscaya Parkway, Leone’s has been a Cape Coral favorite since 1978.
Its nearly 50-year run came to an abrupt end when the Italian market & pizzeria closed its doors for good after business on Saturday, Aug. 23.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I have decided to sell Leone’s, which has been serving the community for 47 years,” Lisa Leone’s heartfelt post on the eatery’s Facebook page read. “I am sorry that I could not announce this prior to our last day, but it would have been too difficult for my staff, the loyal customers, and myself.”
Two days after closing, customers and well-wishers were still drifting by, some unaware of the news, as employees moved, packed and cleared things out.
Leone’s was the city’s oldest eatery, building a loyal fan base over the decades with its old-school neighborhood feel and hand-tossed, house-baked, scratch-made everything.
“The Leones were the first ones here in Cape Coral to open an Italian market and make New York/New Jersey style pizza,” said Carmelo LaMotta, whose family opened an Italian restaurant & pizzeria in Fort Myers the year after Leone’s debuted.
“Lisa and I pretty much grew up together. Leone’s was the backbone of the pizza and Italian market industry. It brought the community together.”
A best-pizza-in-Cape-Coral discussion couldn’t be had without Leone’s being mentioned.
A loyal and dedicated following
“I hope each of you will understand that this was a very difficult decision to make, I truly love so many Leone’s fans,” Lisa’s post continued. “There are so many of you that have been so loyal and dedicated, and I love you all.”
Lisa delves into Leone’s history — how her parents, Rosaria and Armando, started it all after leaving New Jersey. And how her father opened Leone’s Provisions and “in the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s, (he) ran a successful small import and distribution company.”
“My mom at the time, still young, said, ‘What am I going to do,’ and that’s when she created the Italian Market in the front of the warehouse and incorporated my brother Armando’s Pizzeria,” Lisa wrote. “This is how Leone’s Pizzeria, market, and luncheonette came to be in the industrial park area.”
And the customers came, year after year, decade after decade.
“I have very fond memories of going there,” LaMotta said. “Of her mom sitting at the table, peeling green beans or folding pizza boxes. Everyone knew Mama Leone. Or seeing her dad back there making sausage. It was the best.”
Changes over time
Lisa recalls how she left in the 1980s, only to “return to get married and have two amazing children, who like my brother Armando’s children, grew up helping their Nonna and Papa Leone at Leone’s.”
She would again leave — this time for 30 years and a career — and return when her mom became ill.
“After losing both my parents, my brother asked me to continue running the business with him,” she wrote. “As most of you know, he had to retire for health reasons.”
Lisa then explains why she decided to sell.
“… I will say due to my own personal health issues, it has become too difficult for me to continue,” she said. “Plus I get to spend more time with my grandchildren Sienna Rose and Sophie Grace.”
The post concludes with Lisa thanking all those loyal customers who loved every bit of Leone’s.
“To all my wonderful and loyal patrons, new and lifers, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the years of loyalty, great memories, and for sharing all the Mama Leone and, yes, some Papa Leone stories,” her post concluded.
“I have served three and four generations of families and three generations of Leones have served you. Thank you for loving what my parents created nearly 50 years ago. It has been an honor.”
Gift cards
If anyone has any unused gift cards to Leone’s, they will be honored at Amore’s Italian Market & Bakery at 4703 SW 16th Place in Cape Coral.
“We went to help Lisa as much as we could on Saturday after she closed,” said Vince Lafata, adding that his wife (and Amore co-owner) Giovanna is friends with Lisa. “I told Lisa I had to have one last pizza. And I did. Pepperoni. And it was amazing.”
Just like Leone’s has always been for nearly 50 years.
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
Dining and Cooking