In the days after Dino Chonis died in April 2020, longtime customers and friends filled an outer wall of his pizzeria with hand-written tributes and memories of the man who had tossed their pies for generations.
The Chonis family, which closed Tino’s Pizza for two days after its patriarch died of an aggressive and rare cancer at the age of 59, was overwhelmed by the outpouring.
“Our staff came to us on the second day and said we are ready to rally; let’s work,” recalled Chonis’ daughter Morgan.
In early January, though, the family made the painful decision to close Tino’s Pizza at 6610 E. Tanque Verde Road on Wednesday, Feb. 2.
“It’s hard to let go,” said Morgan Chonis, the family’s spokeswoman. “It’s been amazing, and the community and love and outpouring of support has been unreal. But ultimately it came down to the family’s decision to retire my father’s legacy.”
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Dino Chonis died in April 2020, just days shy of his 60th birthday. The restaurant closed for two days, and during that time, longtime and loyal customers paid homage by leaving tributes alongside the mural on the family-owned building.
That legacy goes back to Chonis’ foray into the business in the early 1980s at the long-closed Frankie’s Pizza on East Tanque Verde Road, where he learned the art of being a pizzaiolo. When Frankie’s closed, Chonis took over the location and rebranded it as Tino’s.
In 1984, he moved up the road to his current location. His clientele moved with him as did his crew, many of them teens from nearby high schools.
“On the east side, it was a rite of passage to work here,” said his daughter, recounting the number of her friends and classmates who worked at the restaurant over the years. “If you went to high school around here, it was the rite of passage to work here. We have kids working here now whose parents worked here.”
Morgan Chonis described her father as a mentor, “a quiet dude” who knew and supported all of the mom-and-pop restaurants in the area.
“My dad was never in competition with anybody. He was the type of person who mentored so many people over the years, so hearing all the stories of how many lives were changed, to be able to continue that legacy was really important,” she said. “And now it’s at a beautiful place where the family is ready to retire that legacy and let it live as the beautiful thing that it was.”
Morgan Chonis: “If you went to high school around here, it was the rite of passage to work here. We have kids working here now whose parents worked here.”
Not long after the family posted their decision to close on social media in early January, a longtime customer approached Chonis’ widow, Shiela, who has been running the business with her son Dimitri since Dino died.
“I have a really serious question to ask you, ma’am: Where am I going to get my pizzas?” he asked her.
“Where am I gonna get my pizzas?” Shiela Chonis retorted, according to her daughter.
It’s a question Morgan Chonis said she has asked herself as the restaurant enters its final days.
“Pizza is one of those things you don’t really think about; you just have your spot,” she said. “Everybody’s got their pizza spot. It will definitely be weird.”
10+ restaurants and bars Tucson said goodbye to in 2021
Bentley's House of Coffee & Tea
“We couldn’t bring back the magic,” says Jo Schneider of her longtime Tucson diner, Bentley’s House of Coffee & Tea, 1730 E. Speedway.
After reopening in September after an 18-month closure, Bentley's House of Coffee and Tea closed for good on Dec. 29, 2021.
The diner, at 1730 E. Speedway Blvd., was opened 38 years ago by Jo Schneider, whose family also owns LaCo Tucson at 201 N. Court Ave. LaCo will remain open downtown.
In a Dec. 29 Facebook post, Schneider shared the news of Bentley's closure and told the Tucson community "we have loved being a part of your lives and thank you for being a part of ours."
Boulevard Barbecue & Fixins
Less than a year after opening, Boulevard Barbecue and Fixins at 5737 E. Speedway closed on Sept. 22, 2021.
Boulevard Barbecue & Fixins was opened at 5737 E. Speedway Blvd. in October 2020 by the same minds behind Serial Grillers, brothers Travis and William Miller, and their business partner David Martin.
An increase in meat prices and a staffing shortage led to the trio closing down the restaurant on Sept. 22 this year.
In addition to their four Serial Grillers locations in Tucson, the Miller brothers recently opened Transplant Detroit Style Pizza at 4603 E. Speedway Blvd.
Fronimo’s Greek Café
Since 1995, George and Tracy Fronimakis have run Fronimo’s Greek Cafe, which has offered dishes like gyros with tart tzatziki drizzled over freshly shaved lamb or beef, or Athenian chicken bursting with bright lemon and Greek spices.
Tracy and George Fronimakis, the owners of Fronimo’s Greek Café, announced New Year's Day that their restaurant at 3242 E. Speedway Blvd. would be closing after 25 years of business.
Fronimo's closure was credited to issues the couple faced trying to renew their lease with the owner of the building the restaurant operated out of.
The longtime Greek eatery stayed open through Jan. 15 this year before closing its doors.
The B Line
A person walks by 621 N. Fourth Ave., which was once home to the local cafe The B Line that officially closed up shop.
It was announced in March 2020 that The B Line would "suspend operations" as the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting the restaurant industry and warranting business closures.
Owner Peter Wilke planned to reopen the popular Fourth Avenue restaurant, which had been around since 2002, but it never happened.
Frankie's Cheesesteaks
For 17 years, the original Frankie’s South Philly Cheesesteaks on North Campbell Avenue was a popular destination for authentic Philly fare. The restaurant will close for good at the end of business Friday, Dec. 31.
The original Frankie’s South Philly Cheesesteaks location at 2574 N. Campbell Ave. announced Dec. 31 would be the restaurant's last day of business after the owners struggled to negotiate a new lease.
Frankie's was originally opened in 2004 by Deb and Frankie Santos.
A second Frankie's location opened in September 2020 at 3780 W. Ina Road and will remain in business.
Rigo's Restaurant
Rigo's Restaurant, along with its mariachi performances and daily Mexican buffet, was a South Tucson hit for over 20 years before it closed for good Jan. 8.
After nearly a year of being hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, owner Rigoberto "Rigo" Lopez said the restaurant had to close after the building, located at 2527 S. Fourth Ave., was bought out by a private lender.
Salted Pig American Barbecue
Salted Pig American Barbecue opened in February at 11835 N. Oracle Road and offered traditional barbecue influenced by Texas and the Carolinas.
According to a notice posted on Nov. 22, the restaurant's landlord had reclaimed the space and the doors have since been shut.
Bashful Bandit
Sherri Cole and Cisco Rivera talk about motorcycles outside the Bashful Bandit in 2008.
Since 1980, the Bashful Bandit was a popular hangout and drinking spot for college students and bikers alike.
The iconic 40-year-old Tucson bar, which had a history of fights and noise complaints, closed its doors at 3686 E. Speedway Blvd. in June this year.
Toby Kyte, who bought the bar this year, plans to open a barbeque restaurant there this fall.
Casa Sanchez
The Sanchez family is the engine behind Casa Sanchez Mexican restaurant. From left, Lilly, Rey Jr., Stevi and Trey.
For 24 years, Casa Sanchez-Mom’s Mexican Food served their signature "Sanchez-style" burritos on Tucson's northwest side at 8320 N. Thornydale Road.
The family-run restaurant was set to close in December 2021 due to a lull in business and loss of staff, but the Sanchez family decided to close early in June due to health concerns.
Senae Thai Bistro
Amonwadee “Dee” Buizer opened Senae Thai Bistro in 2016 to showcase the upscale side of Thai cooking.
Senae Thai Bistro was opened downtown in 2016 at 63 E. Congress Street by Amonwadee “Dee” Buizer, who permanently closed the restaurant in July.
After temporarily closing and reopening her dining room multiple times over the past year and a half, Buzier decided it was time for her to retire ahead of her 60th birthday this year.
Asian Sofrito
Asian Sofrito's former sign at 2530 N. First Ave.
This Asian-Caribbean fusion restaurant that sat at 2530 N. First Ave. closed its doors at the end of August after three years of business.
Asian Sofrito's menu blended popular Chinese dishes with Caribbean flavors, from lo mein and chicken chop suey to fried plantains and pork fritas.
The restaurant's owners thanked their patrons in a Facebook post and announced that they would close for good on Aug. 29.
A new restaurant, Buendia Breakfast and Lunch Cafe, opened in the former Asian Sofrito location in early November.
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com.
On Twitter @Starburch
Cathalena E. Burch
Reporter
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