Perry's Pizza in Clawson is closing its doors for good on Nov. 8, bringing an end to 46 years of serving the Oakland County community. The owners announced the closure on social media, saying rising costs finally made the business unsustainable.
According to FOX 2 Detroit, the pizzeria's owners called the decision to shut down incredibly difficult. They pointed to a mix of mounting expenses, saying food costs have continued to rise while utility costs have gone up dramatically in the past few years along with day-to-day operation costs. The owners also blamed a struggling economy that they said has made it difficult for small businesses like theirs to survive.
In their announcement, the owners thanked customers and staff for their support over the decades, as well as their family for standing behind them through the life of the business. The Nov. 8 closing date marks the final day Perry's Pizza will be open.
A Tough Climate for Michigan Restaurants
A January survey found that nearly half of Michigan restaurant operators reported declines in same-store sales, while 59% saw customer traffic drop, according to mlive.com. That same survey found labor costs were the top concern for 27% of Michigan operators, more than double the 12% who cited it nationally, and that 67% of operators had raised menu prices over the prior year.
A separate survey conducted in April painted a similar picture. Fifty-one percent of Michigan restaurant operators reported same-store sales declines, compared with 39% nationwide, per fox17online.com. That report also found 55% of operators saw declining customer traffic, versus 46% nationally, with rising food costs topping the list of challenges at 23%, followed by labor costs at 19% and the overall economy at 16%. Sixty-six percent of the operators surveyed said they had raised menu prices over the past year.
Other Longtime Metro Detroit Eateries Also Closing
Perry's Pizza joins a string of long-running Metro Detroit restaurants calling it quits this fall. A Royal Oak roast beef institution, open for 70 years, was reported to be closing, with owners citing rising food costs and setbacks tied to COVID, according to clickondetroit.com. And the last remaining Daly Restaurant in the region, a 67-year-old operation, was also reported to be shutting its doors, per crainsdetroit.com.
For now, Clawson residents have until Nov. 8 to grab one more slice before Perry's Pizza closes for good, closing out nearly five decades of serving the community.
