Customers say goodbye

Customers of Tutto Bene were first attracted to the restaurant’s food and ambience.
But after it closed its doors Saturday, patrons said they will most miss the family behind the wine cafe.

The 5-year-old restaurant buzzed with customers on its last day. The family-owned restaurant decided not to renew its lease due to economic troubles and inability to find
a buyer.

“Even though this is sad, I think that I’m in a celebratory mood,” said co-owner Marci Widen. “And I think we all are in a way. Even though it’s sad, we are really proud of what this has become and that people are sad to see us go.”

Tiffany Pfeiffer, 26, worked at the cafe from 2004 to 2007 while she attended IU. She said she came back to the restaurant to volunteer for the night and said Tutto Bene became more than just a job.

“I can say personally a lot of happiness in my life here in Bloomington is because of this restaurant, everything that I’ve gained from it,” Pfeiffer said.

Although customers said the art gallery, tapas portions and classiness of the restaurant were all unique, the relationships the Widens built with customers is what would keep them coming back.

Bloomington resident Greg Hanek said he appreciated the “openness” of the family. Hanek said he has been going to the “Cheers-like” restaurant since 2006 and said he would like to see it stay open.

“I’d like to see a partner come in,” he said. “I’d hope to see Tutto Bene move some place else.”

Widen said she usually knew at least one person from each table by name because it was easy for her to connect with her customers.

“I look out at our customers and I really don’t see them as just customers, I see them as friends,” she said. “I might not see them all the time, but I’ve gotten to know them by name.“

Widen said the family is continuing to talk to potential buyers but nothing has been signed because they are still in negotiations. About six buyers have expressed interest, but only two are in serious talks with the restaurant, she said.

For now, she said she is following the process of closing the restaurant, such as returning unsold artwork to the artists.

Amanda Kohl, 24, is one of the 13 Tutto Bene workers who will face the challenge of finding a new job in a dismal economy. Widen said 10 of those are part-time workers and three are full-time. Kohl has been working at the restaurant while earning her master’s degree at IU.

She said she is unsure about her future but thinks the restaurant will come back one day.

“I think that because it’s a popular place, I can’t imagine it not coming back,” Kohl said.

Although Widen, who is 60, isn’t ruling out opening a new business in the future, for now she said she plans to stay active in the arts community and “mellow out.”

“I think we leave being a successful business because we created something that was different and unique,” Widen said. “We have many people that come to us and tell us that, ‘Oh, you’re so different, it’s like New York.’ No, I think this is like Bloomington. Bloomington is a unique place and we want to say that this is a Bloomington kind of place. It’s sad for us all, but it’s just the way it is.”