After an impressive tenure of serving Mexican cuisine to the San Diego community, the original Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant on Mission Gorge is wrapping up its business on New Year's Eve, ending a run that lasted 44 years. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Mission Gorge Road location has been a familiar haunt for the community, known for its Enchiladas Suizas and steadfast menu.

While this establishment's dimming neon signs are a significant change, locals can still taste the original Tio Leo's offerings at the remaining locations in Napa Street and Scripps Poway, as announced on Tio Leo's Lounge Facebook page. The family-owned chain expanded to four locations over the years after Leo Sciuto's ambitious beginnings in 1979. Unfortunately, the rising costs and labor challenges pressured this San Diego staple to consolidate operations.

The closure comes with emotional weight for the Sciuto family, especially for Annamarie Sciuto-Clark, who took the reins of the restaurant after her father sought her assistance during the Great Recession. "It's super bittersweet," Sciuto-Clark told the San Diego Union-Tribune. The restaurant story spans decades, starting from Leo's earlier ventures in the bar scene to this beloved eatery empire.

The prospect of retirement and the passing of the Sciuto family patriarch in 2020 were pivotal in the decision to close while saluting the legacy the late Leo Sciuto left behind and mulling the immense challenge of keeping the doors open. The emotional toll of bidding farewell to her father's dream has been heavy as Sciuto-Clark adeptly juggled her restaurant duties and a career in real estate. Despite the end of this chapter, Sciuto-Clark remains open to the possibility of a new owner continuing Tio Leo's legacy, maintaining the hope that the restaurant’s presence in the community might persevere into future generations.

Until the final dinner service, the restaurant has drawn crowds lining outside its doors, indicating how much its regulars cherish it.