Ridley Township’s Italian Delight, which has served customers for almost a half-century, is closing, at least for now, writes Peg DeGrassa for the Daily Times.

The restaurant on MacDade Boulevard offered a final taste to customers last weekend.

“We will be back,” vowed Nick Guardavaccaro, who owns the restaurant with his father Gino. “We are searching for a new location to reopen with the same family recipes and the same friendly service that our customers expect from Italian Delight.”

The decision to close was prompted by skyrocketing wholesale food costs, staff shortages, and other concerns.

The Delco favorite was the talk of local social media as people offered memories of their experiences there.

The restaurant opened at the MacDade Mall back in 1979.

Italian Delight founder Gino Guardavaccaro is a 1972 immigrant from Italy’s Apulla region.

After opening seven pizza shops in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, he settled on Italian Delight in Ridely.

Italian Delight’s menu of hand-tossed pizza and homemade dishes and family-oriented atmosphere earned it many loyal customers.

In 2007, the restaurant moved to a free-standing building across MacDade Boulevard.

Read more about Italian Delight in the Daily Times.