"La Gondola" closes: the singing landlord closes his restaurant on Dießen's market square

Created: 11/11/2022 3:13 p.m

It's over after 15 years: Mario Arbia (53), the singing landlord, is closing his "La Gondola" on Diessen's market square at the end of the year forever.

© Thomas Ernstberger

Farewell to the singing innkeeper Mario Arbia: the Dießener closes his restaurant on the market square at the end of the year.

Diessen – The rumor has persisted in Diessen for a few weeks.

Now it's official, and it's a gastro hammer for the market community: "La Gondola" on the market square closes on December 31st.

Mario Arbia (53), the "singing Italian", and his wife Rosa Fiorella-Arbia are retiring after 15 years.

"The air is out," explains Arbia.

“If you add the twelve years that we already had our restaurant in Augsburg, we have now been in continuous operation for almost 30 years.

Strength and energy might still be there, but patience is waning, especially since we are also struggling with serious personnel problems," he says.

"It's time to take things a little easier.

We want more time for the family, for our granddaughters and for ourselves.”

A visit to "La Gondola" was usually something more than just a normal pizzeria visit.

This was due in particular to the constantly good mood of the boss, who always showed a heart for the local sports clubs and always greeted his guests personally.

For example, the jerseys of the footballers from the district who have made it into higher leagues hang on the wall.

And when the light in the bar went dark in the evening, entertainer Mario was happy to surprise his guests with a live Italo hit - for a birthday as well as for a wedding.

Three years ago, the restaurant in the heart of the market town received the award "Italian of the Year 2019 in the district of Landsberg".

"We're a bit sad, and we'll definitely miss the marketplace a lot.

But we're not completely out of the world," says Rosa Fiorella-Arbia.

“Many people know our delivery service in the premises of the former Helmer bakery in St. Georgen.

From the new year we will be there with our son Paolo – but it won't be as complex as before." Thoroughbred restaurateur Mario wouldn't be Mario if he didn't already have plans: "But they won't be revealed yet," says he.

"First of all, we wish that we find good successors for our restaurant." ebg