Brian Sharp

@SharpRoc

Tony D's restaurant on Exchange Boulevard announced it was closing Tuesday, less than two months after the death of its namesake owner, Tony DiCesare.

The post on the restaurant's Facebook page said, "Tonight will be our last night, please stop down and have a great entree and cocktail and enjoy your evening with us one more time!"

But the recent deaths of DiCesare and co-owner Chris DeGrazia left the restaurant in legal limbo, resulting in the county's public administrator Frank Iacovangelo being appointed to oversee operations. Various interested parties were in court on Tuesday morning, including Tony D's chef Jay Speranza, who shared operational responsibilities with Iacovangelo.

"I indicated to the court this morning ... that if Mr. Speranza were not there anymore, I could not run the restaurant anymore," Iacovangelo said in a phone interview. "Mr. Speranza informed the court he would not be there after tonight."

The closing could be short lived, as Iacovangelo said bank officials have indicated they are talking with various parties interested in the business. He was optimistic a deal could even materialize Tuesday, but as 5 p.m. came and went that possibility faded. The court appointed Iacovangelo to wind down the business over the next week. That work begins Wednesday morning.

As for Speranza, Iacovangelo said the chef "just indicated that he didn't want to be there anymore, and he wanted to move on. Those were his words. He was moving on. I have no idea where he is going. He didn't disclose that in court."

Speranza could not immediately be reached for comment.

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