It seems like another day, another beloved restaurant is shutting down, leaving customers wondering who’s next. Over the past few months, rumors have swirled about a popular chain quietly closing its doors in several states, leaving fans of this family-friendly dining spot disappointed. With so many familiar names disappearing from the dining scene, the question remains: which restaurant is pulling the plug this time?
Turns out, it’s Buca di Beppo, the well-known Italian chain famous for its family-style servings and lively atmosphere. The chain has now closed both of its Utah locations—Salt Lake City and Midvale—marking the end of an era for many who celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and gatherings there. And Utah isn’t alone. Buca di Beppo has been trimming down its operations across the U.S., with closures in multiple states over the past couple of months.
FULL LIST OF CLOSURES ACROSS THE U.S.:
- Arizona: 7111 West Ray Road, Chandler, AZ
- California: (listed below)
- Colorado: 615 Flatiron Marketplace Drive, Broomfield, CO
- Florida: 351 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL
- Hawaii: 1030 Auahi Street, Honolulu, HI
- Indiana: 6045 East 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN
- Maryland: 112 Kentlands Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD
- Michigan (2): 38888 Six Mile Road, Livonia & 12575 Hall Road, Utica
- New Jersey: 44 Wolf Road, Atlantic City, NJ
- New York: 1900 Pacific Avenue, Colonie, NY
- North Carolina: 10915 Carolina Place Parkway, Pineville, NC
- Ohio: 60 East Wilson Bridge, Worthington, OH
- Pennsylvania (3): 3 East Station Square Drive, Pittsburgh, 6600 Robinson Centre Drive, Pittsburgh, & 2745 Paper Mill Road, Wyomissing
- Utah (2): 202 West 200 South, Salt Lake City & 935 East Fort Union Blvd, Midvale, UT
WHY ARE SO MANY LOCATIONS CLOSING?
The closures at Buca di Beppo follow a trend seen across the restaurant industry. Earlier this year, Red Lobster filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and now Buca di Beppo is feeling the squeeze too. Financial pressures, especially in this tough economic climate, have led to the downsizing of several locations as the company restructures under bankruptcy protection.
The reasons aren’t surprising—rising inflation has made dining out a luxury that many people are cutting back on, impacting restaurants’ bottom lines in a big way.
THE ECONOMY ISN’T HELPING…
On top of financial struggles, Buca di Beppo is still dealing with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In legal filings, the company explained how the pandemic slashed customer demand, leading to a tough road back to profitability in some areas. That, combined with current economic woes, is why so many locations have had to close…