In San Diego’s Little Italy, a group of friends gathers weekly at AmiciBar and Caffe, sharing stories that preserve the neighborhood’s history.

SAN DIEGO — Every Friday morning, a group of longtime friends gathers at the AmiciBar and Caffe in San Diego’s Little Italy to reminisce over coffee. This weekly ritual not only strengthens their bonds but also preserves the history of their beloved neighborhood. 

The group features four friends—Danny Moceri, Lou Palestini, Joe Cordileone, and Sal Tarantino—who have deep roots in Little Italy. 



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“We meet every Friday here at 9:30 for coffee,” said Moceri. 

Palestini recalled their shared history, saying, “Around the corner I lived. Up the street a half a block he lived. Across the street from him he lived.” 

Their gathering at AmiciBar and Caffe is a homage to their upbringing, with conversations reminiscent of the town squares in their ancestral homes back in Italy. 

“Every single one of those towns, you go to the town center, and there’s going to be three or four old men talking to each other,” Cordileone said. 

The friendships developed over a lifetime have created a shared narrative rich with memories, including childhood stories of building go-carts and borrowing wood from the local lumberyard.

Tom Cesarini, founder of the non-profit Convivio, which runs the AmiciBar and Caffe, believes in building community through personal connections. 

“You know we are all about cultivating community; that is our prime purpose,” he said. 

Convivio also aims to support underserved students at Washington Elementary, contributing a portion of its proceeds to the school. 

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Cesarini emphasized the importance of keeping culture alive.

“Amichi means friends, so we are here to welcome friends to the space,” he said. 

As the group shares stories, they not only reflect on their past but also work to ensure that Little Italy’s vibrancy remains. 

“Because it’s where we grew up, it’s our blood, it’s our nature, it’s our people,” Palestini said.

The AmiciBar and Caffe serve as a vital space for connection, storytelling, and preserving Italian American heritage in a rapidly changing neighborhood. For more information, click here.