It is an end of an era for long time restaurateur’s Sam and Nina Feliccia. The home of the famous Sam’s Special Sandwich and homemade Italian bread and sausage will be missed by many as Sam and Nina finally walk away from their home away from home after serving the community in Vista for 40 years. It has been a place where truly everyone knows your name; marriage proposals and wedding rehearsal dinners, countless post game pizza parties, the local hub for law enforcement and first time employment for so many community teens. The Feliccia’s were known for their incalculable hours on-site preparing their infamous dishes such as Sicilian style chicken, eggplant parmesan or tiramisu. Long time employees, Cathy Parisi, Oscar Rodriguez and Cindy Villapondo were the familiar faces that supported the Feliccia’s vision of old world Italian cuisine and were known by patrons for decades.
“I have labored over this decision for five years…I knew the day would come, but it does not make it any easier.” Said Sam Feliccia, “Feliccia’s has been in my soul since 1978 and I will miss the relationships and familiar faces of the day to day social interactions with my customers. Nina and I wish to thank our community and patrons for dining with us, we’ll miss serving you!”
NC Daily Star sat down with Sam and he reflected on his forty years serving the city family and friends.
