Open since 2002, Pizzeria Paradiso at 3282 M St. NW. closed its doors on Sunday, July 26, The pizza pioneer, founded by Ruth Gresser in 1991 with its Dupont Circle flagship, continues there and in Spring Valley and Hyattsville — along with its new take-out business, Paradiso Pronto. The closure was due to a lease disagreement and need for renovations.
At Sunday’s farewell get-together, Managing Partner Carlos Gonzalez said to the restaurant patrons: “Thank you for being here and sharing some time with us. It’s our last day. I just want to remind you, everyone, that we’re gonna be around — Dupont, Spring Valley, Hyattsville … So, we’re not going anywhere.
“Back in 2000, I became a cook, kitchen manager, operations manager, and so many positions. And now I’m the managing partner — with this great one [pointing to Gresser]. You know, talking about Georgetown, so we’ve been here for 23 plus years. So, it’s been fun. I mean the community has been great.
“You know, it was just … it was time. Time to continue, grow and just keep it going. I just want to say thanks to the staff, thanks to the customers. You know the Paradiso family has a lot more to give. So, we’re going to stick around for a long time.
With that, Gresser took the microphone, looked to Gonzalez and said: “It’s in his hands. I want to talk about today as a moment of change. I think in a city of change, the world sees Washington, D.C., and the [federal] government. And that changes every two years. And then it changes every four years. And that’s the D.C. that the world knows. But there’s another D.C., and that’s the D.C. that we all live in. In the other D.C, constant community makes D.C. what it is. I feel like Pizzeria Paradiso is part of that community. And it’s been part of the D.C. that’s constant, stable, reliable, a place of comfort for so many in this city for so long. And here in Georgetown, it’s been over 23 years.”
Gresser thanked her staff, particularly “Geraldo and Lauren, adding, “Pizzeria Paradiso has been built on a foundation of laughter and kindness and respect. And we’re so happy to have shared that with you for these 23 years, and we look forward to continuing this community.”
To say farewell, everyone raised a glass of beer to toast the departing pizzeria on M Street.
Pizzeria Paradiso on its last day. Photo by Bill Starrels.
Pizzeria Paradiso on its last day. Photo by Bill Starrels.
Pizzeria Paradiso on its last day. Photo by Robert Devaney.