U.S.-based family-style Italian restaurant chain Buca di Beppo has announced the closure of at least 13 of its underperforming locations, citing economic pressures as the reason for the decision.
According to a statement given to Scripps News, the restaurant chain explained that these stores “were unable to recover from the damage caused by the pandemic and other market pressures.”
With approximately 50 locations across the U.S., Buca di Beppo had a presence primarily along the West Coast, in Texas, Florida, and the Midwest, providing customers with dine-in and take-out options, as well as online ordering.
As of Tuesday, the Salt Lake City and Midvale, Utah locations were reported as closed by Scripps News Salt Lake City.
Buca di Beppo, which translates to “Joe’s small place” in Italian, first opened its doors in 1993 in the basement of a Minneapolis apartment building.
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These closures come at a time when restaurant sales have been experiencing slight increases nationwide. In a recent report, the National Restaurant Association noted a 0.3% increase in total sales for eating and drinking establishments in June, marking the third consecutive monthly sales gain.
The association also mentioned that the trend for sales in the first half of 2024 was only modestly positive.
