The original branch of San Diego's Tio Leo's chain of Mexican restaurants will soon serve its last meals after more than four decades in business.
Leo Sciuto was once a nightclub owner who always wanted to open a Mexican restaurant. Although he was a full-blooded Italian, he liked the atmosphere at Mexican restaurants and loved the food. Leo eventually found a location to open his first restaurant in San Diego's Mission Gorge and had a friend draw up a design for the restaurant. The friend mailed the plans in a tube and jokingly addressed it to Tio Leo, which means "Uncle Leo" in Spanish, and the name just stuck. Leo Sciuto passed away in July 2020 at 91 years of age.Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant was founded in 1979 with the opening of its first location at 6333 Mission Gorge Road in San Diego's Mission Gorge/Grantville area. Although there is no specific date at this time, the Mission Gorge branch is expected to close at the end of the month to make room for a new development. The branches in Linda Vista and Poway will remain in operation
For more information about Tio Leo's Mexican Restaurant, visit tioleos.com.
