After being in the restaurant industry for more than 25 years, owner and chef Bruno Girardi thought he was ready to retire, but it turns out that the more time he spent away from the kitchen, the more he missed it. In turn, the downtown area between Stone and Church Avenue has been missing the scent and tastes of authentic Italian food.

The wait will soon be over because Perché No Italian Bistro is opening soon in the former Caffé Milano spot at 46 W. Congress St. by the end of September 2021. “We have had to wait a lot longer for equipment and supplies since many things are on backorder,” said Bruno and his wife Krissy Girardi.