After nearly six years, Il Casaro Pizzeria (235 Church Street) has temporarily closed its Castro restaurant and its future appears uncertain.
The Neopolitan-style pizzeria opened in 2019 in the space previously occupied by popular taqueria Chilango.
Il Casaro is co-owner by restaurateurs Francesco Covucci and Peter Fazio. Il Casaro's North Beach location remains open.
Il Casaro Pizzeria at 235 Church St. is now closed. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
Covucci tells Hoodline the closure is temporary while they determine how to move forward. "We are figuring out what to do," explained Covucci.
Ultimately this could spell the end for this second location of Il Casaro. Covucci explained they are trying to negotiate with their landlord and deciding whether or not to reopen.
While unable to provide a timeline, Covucci said, "We will be deciding shortly."
Covucci added, "We really want to be there but it was not sustainable anymore," pointing towards a lack of foot traffic in the area.
Covucci and business partner Peter Fazio recently purchased and reopened the legendary North Beach Restaurant.
Il Casaro co-owner Francesco Covucci (center) with Aaron Peskin, Mayor Daniel Lurie, and Willie Brown at the grand re-opening of North Beach Restaurant. | Photo: Vas Kiniris/Instagram
The opening of Il Casaro on Church was a long time coming after initially announcing the restaurant in 2017. A city-mandated seismic retrofit and resubmission of construction plans ultimately delayed the project for two years.
The menu mirrored that of the North Beach location, known for its Neapolitan-style pies. Because the new space has a full kitchen and a larger oven, pastas were added to the menu.
The restaurant also boasted a large outdoor patio space in the back.
This isn't the first sign of Il Casaro's uncertainty. Il Casaro's time on Church St. appeared to be numbered after a real estate listing for the space was posted last year.
Inside the now closed Il Casaro Pizzeria. | Photo: Steven Bracco/Hoodline
According to the listing, monthly rent for the approximately 1,541-square-foot space is $10,454 plus $1,300 in additional fees and taxes. The lease is set to expire in March 2027.
Il Casaro's closure comes in the same month that Sisters Coffee Shop closed and Jeffrey's Natural Pet Foods announced its impending closure.
