How it Happened

1936

In 1936, my Italian-born grandfather, Santi Catelli, and my Italian American grandmother, Virginia, opened Catelli’s as “The Rex,” the same year their son, my father, Richard, was born. Unable to afford a sign of their own, they took a free “Rex” sign and, some years later, added “Catelli’s” to make it their own.

With Highway 101 running through Geyserville, Catelli’s became a go-to stop for a meal and a drink for local farmers, wine growers, and travelers heading north and south. Nearly 90 years later, our family’s tradition of welcoming people to the table remains at the heart of Catelli’s.

1950 - 1960

Catelli’s continued to be a gathering place for family celebrations, local farmers, and businesspeople.

When my grandfather, Santi, fell ill in the late 1960s, my father, Richard, stepped in to run the restaurant alongside my Noni, Virginia. After spending time living in Chicago, my dad returned to Geyserville with a big-city vision for Catelli’s, leading a remodel of the bar that got the locals talking.

My dad married Antoinette Sepulveda, who learned to cook from Virginia and joined her in the kitchen, carrying on the family’s traditions through food.

1970 - 2000

1970s 

In 1970, I was born to Richard and Antoinette and grew up at Catelli’s, spending my earliest years at the bar or in my Noni’s lap, surrounded by the sights, smells, and sounds of our busy family restaurant.

The Late 1970s and 1980s

Richard later married Jeannie Navara, and together they welcomed two more children, my half-siblings, Nicholas and Alicia Catelli. Jeannie became a vibrant part of the front-of-house team, helping welcome guests until 1984.

1990 - 2000

Chefs Franco Dunn and Thomas Oden opened Santi in the former Catelli’s space, bringing a new chapter to the building’s culinary history. Their commitment to traditional Italian cooking and making food from scratch helped shape a generation of Sonoma County chefs. Among those who worked in Santi’s kitchen were Ari Rosen, who went on to open Scopa and Campo Fina; Dino Bugica, who founded Diavola in Geyserville; and Liza Hinman, who later opened Spinster Sisters in Santa Rosa.

2010 - 2020

Catelli’s Reopens

My brother and I had always dreamed of bringing Catelli’s back, and in 2010, we had the opportunity to do just that when Santi moved to Santa Rosa.

My brother, sister-in-law Anna, and I poured our hearts into bringing Catelli’s back to life, honoring our family’s legacy while creating a new chapter for the restaurant we love. Together, we helped restore Catelli’s as a place where generations could gather, share a meal, and feel at home.

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