LaRosa's closes sole central Ohio pizzeria for falling short of sales expectations

DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Cincinnati-based pizzeria's singular central Ohio location has closed after the eatery failed to meet the chain's financial expectations.

LaRosa's Family Pizzeria at 7048 Hospital Drive in Dublin closed permanently on Sept. 1, the chain announced in an email to customers. The Dublin eatery had served as the brand's only Columbus-area restaurant since launching nearly 10 years ago in late 2014, but did not perform as the company had hoped.

"We made so many great friends in Dublin who welcomed us and made us feel a part of the community," the pizzeria said in a statement. "We'd also like to thank all our team members who did they very best to make our Dublin pizzeria successful. In the end, sales just didn't meet our expectations."

A sign posted on the Dublin location's door thanks the community for their support throughout the past 10 years, and states that gift cards or the chain's "Buddy" cards are good for use at any other LaRosa's eatery.

The brand was founded 70 years ago in 1954 in Cincinnati, and has since ballooned to about 65 locations across southwestern Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Now, the closest LaRosa's restaurant is at 291 E. Alex-Bell Road in Centerville.

LaRosa's isn't the only chain that recently shuttered a central Ohio location for failing to meet the company's financial expectations. A Walmart store near Obetz closed to the public in February, then later auctioned off leftover retail equipment and merchandise, including cash registers, checkout counters, display racks, laptops and security cameras.