WORCESTER, Mass. – Russo Italian Restaurant in Worcester is giving customers their two-week notice. It will be closing when dinner ends on Oct. 26.

Owner Ed Russo said he’s been getting a lot of questions about his next move, but the answer is simple.

“Well, it's time to retire, retiring from the restaurant industry," Russo said. "The last five years has been incredible. I have loved every single minute of it.”

Russo Italian Restaurant opened on Water Street in 2019. Russo said opening the restaurant was done out of passion, and he’s enjoyed every moment.

“My client base, love them all. My staff has been incredible, love them all. But comes to a time when you have to make a decision in your life," Russo said. "The lease is coming up. Do I sign on for another five years, or do I do what I want to do? I want to travel. I want to kind of learn how to play golf.”

Russo said he’s proud to have paid homage to many generations of his Italian family, serving recipes passed down from his grandparents.

The restaurant owner said his advice to someone looking to get in the business is to be prepared to put in a lot of hours, and have a lot of money saved up.

“It's a tough business to be in, whether you're in the city or outside the city. A good operator will do absolutely fine," Russo said. "And you just have to adapt to the times, you know? And here in the city, you've seen a lot of restaurants come and go over the past few years. But if you actually look, the ones that have actually gone, something else better has come in.”

“For every restaurant that closes in Worcester," Paul Giorgio said, "it looks like another restaurant opens, and someone's willing to take a chance on opening a restaurant and trying to create a business.”

Giorgio is the organizer of restaurant week in the city. He believes Worcester’s restaurants have a lot to offer.

“There's a great many restaurants in Worcester that are very, very good, that could challenge restaurants in Boston any time," Giorgio said. "So, you know, we are still a restaurant city. I think the good thing about Worcester is all the restaurants are locally owned. You know, there are a couple of chains, but a vast majority of people you know in the community.”

And as Russo Italian Restaurant plans to close its doors on a high note, Russo is thanking his community for a great run.

“I’ll tell you right now," Russo said, "you come in over the next couple of weeks, free cannolis for everybody because I don't want anyone to forget the cannoli.”

Russo said since making the announcement on Monday morning, their books have been filling up fast with reservations.