How it Happened

1936

“The Rex” is opened by Santi and Virginia Catelli with their newborn son Richard. Without enough money to buy a sign they took the free “Rex” sign and added “Catelli's the Rex” some year later 

My Italian immigrant grandfather Santi Catelli and my Italian first generation grandmother Virginia opened catelli's in 1936 the year my father, Richard Catelli was born. It was opened as the Rex as they got a free sign and later added the family name to make it Catelli's the Rex. We were the stop for Farmers wine Growers and people traveling north and south on the 101 Highway as it used to go through the town of Geyserville. Santi spent the 2 Martini Lunch

1950 - 1960

Catelli's Remains the local spot for family celebrations  local farmers and business people after a day at work.

Richard Catelli takes over the day-to-day operations with his mother Virginia when Santi Catelli fell ill. After Richards returned from living in Chicago he brought his big city vision to the bar at catelli's and made a remodel project that had the locals talking. Richard married Antoinette Sepulveda, who learned to cook from Virginia and became part of the kitchen team.

My father took over running the restaurant in the late sixties after my grandfather got ill he married my mom and she worked in the kitchen learning to cook from my Noni Virginia he later married Genie when I was six my brother Nick and sister Alicia's mom whom also worked at the restaurant

1970 - 2000

1970s 

Dominica Catelli was born to Richard and Antoinette and was kept at the bar or on her grandmother's lap in her early years absorbing the sites smells and sounds of a bustling restaurant which she feels are in the core of her memories 

Late '70s and '80s 

Richard married Jeannie Navara and had two more children, Nicholas and Alicia Catelli. Jeannie was a vibrant part at the front of the house team until 1984.

1990 - 2000

In between, 19xx & 20xx Santi Restaurant opens in Catelli’s space under Franco Dunn and Thomas Oden some of Sonoma County's best chefs and restaurants evolved Ari Rosen Scopoa &  Campa Dino Biagio Diavolo Liza Hinman Spinster Sisters

2010 - 2020

Catelli’s reopens

My brother and I had always wanted to bring catelli's back and got the opportunity in 2010 when the restaurant Santi who was leasing from our dad  moved to Santa Rosa. My brother and sister-in-law Anna who were a big part of the rebuilding of Catelli's moved from the area one and a half years ago and have since and has since been myself husband and our amazing team

2021

Nicholas & Anna Catelli moved out of the area and Anna Catelli has started a family business with her sister Rachel, Church and Main in Ione, CA.

Catelli’s awards