Jonesboro residents can soon enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at one of the newest restaurants in town, La Bocca Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria. Located at 2915 Kazi St. in Jonesboro, this new restaurant is owned by Rinor Neziri of Jonesboro and his cousin Tony Avanzare of Paragould, who also owns the Avanzare Italian Dining in Paragould.

Neziri and Avanzare are both natives of Sicily, Italy, where Neziri said he grew up with a passion for cooking as he helped his mother and grandmother in the kitchen. “I always wanted to come to the States. Everybody talks about it. I just wanted to see how it is, and I really liked it here, so I decided I wanted to stay here. That was eight years ago,” Neziri said.