Owner of popular Sheffield Italian restaurant reveals reason behind closure

Marco Giove, who runs Marco at Milano on Archer Road, Millhouses, said he decided to "take it slow" by scaling down his business and turning it into a takeaway so he could have more quality time with his family.

Marco at Milano was first opened in 2000 by Marco and Yasmin Giove as a family business, and had been forced to shut due to the Covid-19 pandemic in March last year.

The 57-year-old grandfather said: "It's been 21 years and it's just the right time to just slow down a little. I'll miss the customers, my colleagues, there were a lot of fond memories but it's time to move on.

"It was too much for me to contemplate opening it up again...it was a big decision, but after speaking to my daughters, I decided to slow down."

The father-of-three and a grandfather-of-five however assured his loyal customers that he will still be around, as a takeaway service called marco@milano (a casa tua) has been launched from a kitchen across the road at Hazel's Quality Catering.

The takeaway, which is currently closed, will resume its operations next week, said Marco.

He said: "The takeaway had stopped last month as I was busy sorting out the restaurant and moving out.

"And tomorrow, I am getting my second Covid jab, so I might have reactions so I will restart from next week.

"With the takeaway, it's not like before. It's just me, no staff and a lot less stressful, so I can spend time with my grandchildren, really."

Marco announced the sad news on Facebook over the weekend, telling customers it was a ‘massive GRAZIE’ from him and all the staff for their support after more than two decades.

Hundreds have commented, with many expressing their disappointment at the loss of what they called the ‘best restaurant in Sheffield’, while wishing Marco and his staff all the best for the future.

As for the future of the premises, he said it would soon house a new seafood restaurant called Neon Fish, hosted by Gracie Anderson and Sheffield-born Cary Brown.