La Focaccia Reopens in San Antonio After Brief Closure

The longtime Italian restaurant reverses course on retirement plans and will reopen with limited Valentine's Day reservations.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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After announcing plans to permanently close in late January, La Focaccia Italian Grill in San Antonio's Southtown neighborhood is reopening just in time for Valentine's Day. Founder Luigi "Domenic" Ciccarelli had previously told local media he was retiring, but has now reversed that decision and will reopen the 30-year-old restaurant with a soft reopening on February 11 and limited reservations available for Valentine's Day.

Why it matters

The reopening of La Focaccia is significant for the Southtown community, which has seen its share of restaurant closures in recent years. As a longtime local institution, the return of the family-owned Italian restaurant is a positive sign for the neighborhood's dining scene and its ability to retain cherished community businesses.

The details

La Focaccia closed temporarily in late January, with founder Luigi "Domenic" Ciccarelli citing plans to retire. However, Ciccarelli has now changed course and will reopen the restaurant in the coming days, with a soft reopening planned for February 11 and limited Valentine's Day reservations available by calling the restaurant.

  • La Focaccia announced plans to permanently close on January 29, 2026.
  • The restaurant was originally set to close on January 31, 2026.
  • La Focaccia will now reopen with a soft reopening on February 11, 2026.
  • Limited Valentine's Day reservations will be available starting February 11, 2026.

The players

Luigi "Domenic" Ciccarelli

The founder of La Focaccia Italian Grill, who had previously announced plans to retire but has now reversed that decision and will reopen the 30-year-old restaurant.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not retiring.”

— Luigi "Domenic" Ciccarelli, Founder, La Focaccia Italian Grill (MySA)

“We'll have a soft reopening on February 11 with limited reservations for Valentine's Day.”

— Luigi "Domenic" Ciccarelli, Founder, La Focaccia Italian Grill (MySA)

What’s next

La Focaccia will begin accepting limited Valentine's Day reservations starting on February 11, 2026.

The takeaway

The unexpected reopening of the long-running La Focaccia restaurant in San Antonio's Southtown neighborhood is a welcome development for the local community, demonstrating the resilience of cherished small businesses and their ability to adapt to changing circumstances.