Melanie Murillo created many memories throughout the years at Riccardo’s by the Bridge — a beloved restaurant and event venue in Astoria — but her fondest was her wedding day. “You guys treated us just like family,” Murillo wrote in a comment under the restaurant’s Facebook post announcing it will be closing permanently.

“You put us at ease and took off all the stress and we were so thankful. We will never ever forget you all!”After nearly 70 years of serving the Astoria community, Riccardo’s by the Bridge announced the closure on Sept. 1,  due to the operational impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.