Pizzerias amassed a major slice of the more than 50 area restaurants that closed in 2024.
Beyond the nearly 15 pizza joints lost, the most notable closings this year included longtime local restaurants such as Old Naples Pub, which closed May 31 after operating 35 years in downtown Naples; Real Seafood Co. which closed May 25 after operating 20 years in North Naples; and Nemo’s Sports Cafe closed in August ahead of the redevelopment demolition of the iconic Beacon Bowl; the bowling alley and sports bar were popular hangouts for many decades.
Real Seafood relocated to Coconut Point in Estero, where it opened this month. A new Italian restaurant, Bella Atalia, is coming soon to its vacated space in Collier County, while a new dining concept hasn’t been named yet for Old Naples Pub’s old spot. A luxurious, six-story boutique hotel with a high-end restaurant will be built on the former site of the bowling alley.
Passé pizza
Shuttered pizzerias included two longtime chains in the Naples area.
Aurelio’s Pizza closed its full-service restaurant in September at Coastland Center mall after the Chicago-based concept operated for more than 25 years in Naples. Cici’s Pizza closed its 20-year-old North Naples restaurant in June.
“I’m so shocked pizzerias are closing. I’ve never heard of pizzerias closing until this year,” said Guy Clarke, founder of Sizzle Dining’s annual culinary event in Southwest Florida. “And now this year and last year it feels like more pizzerias ever in my life are closing down.”
Aurelio’s bounced back this month with a small takeout and delivery location in the former Naples Boulevard space of Romeo’s Pizza, which closed this summer after operating for a short time. On the flip side, Baci Pizza closed its 10-year location on U.S. 41 East this summer and expanded this fall into the larger Baci Trattoria & Pizza off Bayshore Drive in East Naples.
Naples Pizza wasn’t as fortunate. It closed in May after 15 years of service at Berkshire Commons in East Naples. Short-timers that shuttered this year included Sammy’s Pizza at Naples Towne Centre South in East Naples, and Pizzata Pizzeria + Apertivo, Samuel Mancino’s Pizza & Grinders and Zza Baby Pizza in North Naples.
The number of local pizzerias closing does not surprise Chris Jones, who sold his LowBrow Pizza restaurant this summer and closed both locations of PizzaJones this year and Industry Pizza last year in the Naple area.
“It’s getting tougher and tougher, you know,” Jones said. “LowBrow is going strong, but the selling of LowBrow was a business decision between my partner and I. The other businesses, though, we kind of suffered from some location issues. We did well up on Pine Ridge, then the margins started to get slimmer and slimmer there; and then Bayfront was just a disaster at the end of the day. It’s probably too difficult of a location.”
Jones thinks the local market may be oversaturated when it comes to pizzerias, plus it’s tougher for newcomers to find success.
“The pizza industry, even though it’s part of the restaurant industry, it’s sort of on its own,” he said. “The guys that kind of grew up in pizza and kind of inherited the family business, per se, or that kind of thing, they’re getting a little older and there are long hours. To make any money, you’ve really got to work hard. You’ve got to be a big part of the labor force. That’s a lesson we learned.”
Outside of that, Jones had unique challenges in creating at least four different local concepts.
“We took on too much. We grew too fast,” he said. “That was probably our mistake. If I had to do it again, I probably should have just stuck with LowBrow and let LowBrow do its thing. But I think there are too many restaurants, period.”
Jones took advantage of an opportunity and returned to being a private country club chef out of the limelight, while LowBrow Pizza & Beer continues to perform under new ownership in East Naples with the addition of a full bar.
In Lee County, other pizzerias that closed this year include Rosati’s Pizza Sports Pub at the Shops at Jamaica Bay, Pizzeria Di Biscardi in south Fort Myers, and I Ragazzi Pizza in Cape Coral.
Retired restaurants
Collier County restaurants that permanently closed this summer include three longtime dining spots in North Naples. Cafe Figaro shuttered after operating for 18 years, Poached closed after 13 years of service, while L’Auberge retired after a 10-year run.
Others shutting down in North Naples include Kruk’s Philly Steaks, Fusion Bowlz and I Heart Mac & Cheese. BurgerFi closed its locations in North Naples and East Naples. Three60 Market and Perkins closed their longtime spots in East Naples.
Stoney’s Steakhouse at Bayfront in Naples closed this year and reopened as Soluna Restaurant & Bar under new ownership. Stevie Tomato’s Sports Page was sold and is now Scorecard Social at Pebblebrooke Center in North Naples. Joey’s D’s Restaurant & Bar on Marco Island was sold and is now Cav’s Kitchen and Cocktails. The Naples taproom for Riptide Brewing Co. was sold and is now Kaleidoscope Beer Co.
Hospitality businesses permanently closing in downtown Naples include Narrative Coffee Roasters on Central Avenue, KJ Sushi & Asian Bistro on Fifth Avenue South, The Bowl Bazaar in The Shoppes at Dockside, and Planet Grilled Cheese and The Dogos in the Coastland Center food court.
Some restaurants were victims of hurricanes. The Mucky Duck was seriously damaged in early October after operating since 1976 on Captiva Island; the local restaurant has tentative plans to rebuild. Southern Grill and Tommy’s Eats & Spirits closed at the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers, which permanently closed in September after more than 85 years. Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill in Cape Coral was destroyed in an October fire but the Kearns Restaurant Group plans to rebuild it.
Restaurants lost this year in Bonita Springs include The Causeway, Habaneros Mexican Grill and Mediterranean Paradise. The Llama’s House closed at Miromar Outlets in Estero.
DJ Chinese Restaurant closed in April in south Fort Myers and relaunched as DJ Chinese Garden takeout on Alico Road in the fall. This summer, The Rude Shrimp Co. closed on Fort Myers Beach and That BBQ Place closed in Matlacha.
Blu Sushi closed its downtown Fort Myers location this summer and Shawn & Tony’s Kitchen closed in Fort Myers. LJ’s Lounge closed in Fort Myers Shores after operating for 33 years. Horsin Around Deli also recently closed in North Fort Myers.
Other Cape Coral restaurants closing in 2024 include Beef ‘O’ Brady’s on Santa Barbara Boulevard, Bimini Bites, Gregory’s Fusion Restaurant, I Heart Mac & Cheese and Sylwia’s Ice Cream.
Palace Pub & Wine Bar also closed in Cape Coral in April but plans to reopen in a new location nearby in 2025. LadyCakes Bakery closed its 10-year location on Del Prado in June and plans to relocate soon to Cape Coral Parkway.
Temporary timeouts
La Trattoria on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples temporarily closed in July after part of the Italian restaurant’s ceiling collapsed, but it was able to reopen three months later in October. Grandma Penny’s Pizza closed in July but reopened in September in North Fort Myers.
Burntwood Tavern at Mercato in North Naples closed for two months and reopened as the reimagined Taberna Burntwood. Petar’s and DeRomo’s Gourmet Market & Restaurant in Bonita Springs both temporarily closed for major renovations before reopening.
A May car crash into the side of Pastrami Dan’s didn’t stop the local restaurant from looking ahead to its 50th season in Naples. The popular local eatery reopened after being temporarily closed for a few days.
The Alley, an urban bar serving late-night bites and cocktails in Naples, opened in late January but then was shuttered most of the year because of city planning issues. The venue relaunched in October as part of The District.
After spending more than a year repairing damage caused by Hurricane Ian, The Turtle Club reopened in May but had to temporarily close again this fall because of Hurricane Milton damage. The resilient restaurant reopened again in late October.
Next week, we’ll look at local restaurants that launched in 2024. Merry Christmas!
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com
