Villa Nuova Ristorante & Pizzeria, a Deptford mainstay for more than two decades, is heading into its final weeks of service. The longtime neighborhood favorite will close at the end of June, owner Peppe Scotto announced on his personal Facebook page. Staff at the Good Intent Road restaurant told a local reporter they were saddened by the news and said the family is accepting reservations through the closing stretch, while regulars share memories online and plan return visits before the doors shut.
According to 42Freeway, restaurant representatives confirmed that the lease on the property expires after this month, although no precise final day of business has been set. The outlet reports that Scotto used his Facebook post to thank longtime customers and urge them to “stay tuned” for whatever comes next. The coverage describes the restaurant’s layout as a full dining room in the front, with a pizza and sandwich counter in the back.
Villa Nuova's website lists the business at 1447 Good Intent Road in Deptford and shows a menu that combines full-service Italian entrees with pizza-counter standards, along with catering and online ordering options. The site also notes the restaurant’s BYOB policy and a rotating specials board that has earned praise from regulars over the years.
A Deptford fixture for decades
Peppe Scotto took over Villa Nuova in 2000 and, as reported by 42Freeway, he emigrated from Naples in 1982, working in South Jersey kitchens before making Villa Nuova his own. Staff members interviewed by the site called Scotto “one of the best Italian chefs in South Jersey,” and customers said the restaurant has long been a go-to spot for family dinners and milestone celebrations.
What the closure signals
Locally, Villa Nuova's upcoming shutdown means Deptford is losing one of its longest-running independent restaurants. Nationally, independent operators have been under strain. Data and reporting cited by Nation's Restaurant News show the independent restaurant sector contracted in 2025 amid rising food, labor and occupancy costs, a backdrop that helps explain why family-run spots sometimes close when a lease comes up.
Scotto's Facebook message, relayed by local coverage, said the family is grateful to customers and hopes to find a new home for the operation. For the latest details on closing dates and reservations, visit Villa Nuova's website.
