Joe Benny’s, a Little Italy restaurant known for its distinctive Sicilian-style focaccia pizza, hearty sandwiches and jumbo meatballs, will close this spring after nine years in business. Owner Joseph “Joe Benny” Gardella shared the news in an emotional video posted to Instagram Thursday.  

“I’m forcing myself to keep going because I love this, I love you, I love what we’ve created, so I pushed myself,” Gardella said, holding back tears. “Ladies and gentlemen, I can’t push anymore.” Gardella hasn’t yet decided on a final day for the eatery at 313 S. High St., but said that it will likely come in late May or early June. He could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.