Popular Italian restaurant chain closes more than a dozen locations across America without warning employees as former staff members are ‘disheartened’

An Italian restaurant chain has suddenly closed 13 underperforming locations in the US.

Buca di Beppo, known for its homey dishes and vintage decor, has permanently closed restaurants in California and Florida over the past week, as well as its last remaining locations in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Former employees of a number of eateries, many of which have been open for more than two decades, said the closure came as a shock.

“It’s very discouraging that everything is coming to an end,” said Rozalyn Marc-Aurele, who worked in a restaurant in Sacramento, California, for four years. VOS40.

The move follows a spate of restaurant closures across the U.S. as food price inflation and rising operating costs increasingly weigh on small and mid-sized chains.

Sofia Vergara poses for ‘Meatballs 4 Ninos’ at Buca di Beppo in 2013 in Santa Monica, California. She joined forces with Bucca di Beppo restaurants to raise money and awareness for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

In addition to the Sacramento, California location, Buca di Beppo also closed restaurants in Livonia, Michigan, Colonie, Florida, and Spring Township, Pennsylvania.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, the company confirmed it closed 13 stores this week that “were unable to recover from the damage caused by the pandemic and other market pressures.”

A sign on the front door of the Sacramento location reads: “We are grateful to you, our loyal guests, for giving us the opportunity to serve you.

‘It is with great appreciation and gratitude that we thank you for all the years.’

Open since 1999, the Sacramento restaurant serves the chain’s famous meatballs, as well as pasta and pizza platters.

“Just knowing that this place has been open for so long and now it’s closing… it’s a big deal,” former employee Jayden Seizmore told FOX40.com.

He told the newspaper that employees were not informed of the restaurant’s closure until Monday morning.

Another former employee said he was told to report to the restaurant at 11 a.m. for an “emergency meeting,” where he was told the restaurant would be closing.

“Because I was able to work here and have the experience that I gained here, it is very sad that it ended so abruptly,” said Rozalyn Marc-Aurele.

“It’s very discouraging that it’s all coming to an end.”

According to local Florida news, employees at the Colonie location, which had been open for 24 years, were not notified of the closing in advance.

The chain is also known as a venue for parties and celebrations. In 2009, Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone even bought a location in California.

Buca di Beppo was founded in Florida in 1993 and has been a subsidiary of the Planet Hollywood chain since 2008.

There are now 44 Buca di Beppo restaurants left in the U.S. At its peak a decade ago, there were more than 80.

According to local news reports, locations also closed in Maryland, Ohio and Hawaii earlier this year.

One that closed in 2016 was the Santa Monica, California location where Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara was photographed in 2013 for a “Meatballs 4 Ninos” charity event.

She partnered with Bucca di Beppo restaurants to raise money and awareness for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Sofia Vergara poses for ‘Meatballs 4 Ninos’ at Buca di Beppo in 2013 in Santa Monica, California. She joined forces with Bucca di Beppo restaurants to raise money and awareness for St Jude Children’s Research Hospital

The sign on the front door of the Sacramento location reads: “We are grateful to you, our loyal guests, for giving us the opportunity to serve you.”

Buca di Beppo is known for its family dishes and vintage decor

The chain is also known as a party venue – Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone even bought a California location in 2009 (pictured: Stallone next to Charlie Sheen and Danny DeVito)

This is because more and more restaurants are closing across the country.

Earlier this week, a breakfast shop on the outskirts of Chicago closed its doors on Sunday after 65 years in business, reportedly because the owner wanted to make money off it.

Peter Gerousis, 43, co-owner of Cozy Corner Restaurant in Oak Park, said despite the good business, the decision to close was necessary.

“The restaurant is currently the most successful it has ever been in 65 years – without a doubt,” Gerousis told the Chicago Sun-Times“But our landlord thought it was fair to double our rent.”