Cappellini Primavera, roast goat in season and the personal warmth of Ristorante Primavera have brought riches to the life of Nicola and Peggy Civetta. He was smart enough to buy the building that houses his restaurant at 1578 First Avenue and 82nd Street with its 12 apartments years ago. He is an avid gardener upstate at the Civetta weekend place in Colombia County. And they own Villa Vezze, a 12th Century Medieval village in the hills of Tuscany where he and his wife have run a restaurant and inn that has catered to big family gatherings, Don Keough of Coca Cola’s for one.

        But now the two are saying goodbye to regulars and plan to close the place July 30th. The last three years of economic woes have been difficult for a restaurant with entrees mostly $36.50 to $46.50, even as salaries continue to rise, he explains. “Better to close now than wait,” Civetta reasons. “It’s sad. I will miss the people. Better to close and walk out with my head up and just retire.” It’s yet another closing of an institution. He cannot imagine another restaurant would be willing to inherit the space with its union crew. "I’d love it it became a dress shop or a bank one day.”

        At just 61, Nicola admits he is also a little tired. But he plans to garden and play tennis, “to spend time with my family which I could never do – the Civettas have three children and a grandchild. “Maybe I’ll try to do consulting.”

        Villa Vezze will be closed till fall to give them time to finish business here and possibly downscale the Tuscany site.

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