OMAHA -- Anthony’s Steakhouse, an Omaha staple for more than 50 years, is closing.
The owner, Tony Fucinaro Jr., said Monday that he’s ready to retire. He said he wants to devote more time to his three adult children and seven grandchildren.
“My father gave me some advice when I got into this business,†said Fucinaro, who went to work for his father in 1976, right out of college. “He told me not to wait too long (to retire). It’s just time for me to retire, and I want to do it the right way.â€
Customers will be able to use gift cards to the restaurant, which is at 72nd and F streets, through Feb. 26. Anthony’s has stopped serving lunch, and the Ozone Lounge no longer will feature live entertainment, allowing it to be used exclusively as a dining room.
The restaurant is just the latest of Omaha’s steakhouses to close. Longtime Omahans will remember Ross’ Steakhouse, which closed in 1996; The Original Caniglia’s Italian Steakhouse, which closed in 2005; Angie’s Restaurant and Mister C’s Steakhouse, both of which closed in 2007; and Caniglia’s Venice Inn, which closed in 2014.
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Anthony “Tony†Fucinaro Sr. opened Anthony’s in October 1967 after getting out of the bar business. In 2017, the restaurant marked its 50 years in the business by giving away a 1967 Ford Thunderbird.
At the time it opened, Anthony’s was on the southwest edge of Omaha — farther south than most diners were used to driving, the younger Fucinaro said.
Anthony’s opened with a 120-seat dining room and an 80-seat lounge. It added banquet and party rooms to the north and expanded its dining area and lounge after a fire in July 1969. It can seat nearly 1,000 diners: 450 in its lounge and dining room, 400 in its banquet and party rooms and an additional 100 on the patio.
Anthony’s remodeled its dining room in 2004 and its lounge in 2005. It renamed the latter the Ozone and began promoting it as a showcase for all types of live music.
“The Ozone Lounge opened my eyes to the fact that Omaha has so much great musical talent,†Fucinaro said Monday. “I’m going to miss seeing all of that.â€
Anthony’s has been known for its aged steaks, which are cut and prepared on site. It’s also known for the iconic fiberglass steer atop the restaurant.
Fucinaro Jr. said his late father bought the steer, which is about 14 feet long, about two years after Anthony’s opened. He said a guy stopped by and offered it when a previous deal was canceled.
The steer used to be brown like a Hereford, but it was changed to black years ago to represent Angus steers now used for steaks.
The fate of the steer, and the restaurant’s equipment, is uncertain.
“There will be a lot of things that we still have to figure out,†Fucinaro said. “What happens with that steer is one of them.â€
Employees were informed Sunday of Fucinaro’s decision. “There will surely be many others wishing to have one more memorable meal here as well, which allows us to continue operations and provide continued employment,†the letter read, in part.
Fucinaro said he’s confident his approximately 75 employees will stick around through the end. He said business has been good, despite the pandemic, and economics didn’t enter his decision to close.
“We’ve been blessed to have so many very loyal, great people working here,†he said. “We’ve fought (through adversity), we’ve laughed and we’ve cried. In the end, it only made us stronger.â€
Reservations are recommended for those hoping to visit Anthony’s, as Fucinaro expects to see a lot of familiar faces lining up to say goodbye. Dinner will be served Tuesdays through Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The banquet room will stay open through May for previously scheduled events.
“I just really want to say thank you to everyone for all the wonderful memories,†Fucinaro said. “After 55 years of serving so many outstanding customers, I want to thank them for what they’ve done for us.â€