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Houston Institution Barry’s Pizza Shutters After 37 Years

The restaurant blamed COVID-19 for its closure

Amy McCarthy is a staff writer at Eater.com, focusing on pop culture, policy and labor, and only the weirdest online trends.

After 37 years of slinging pies, Houston dining institution Barry’s Pizza has officially closed its doors for good.

The restaurant announced its departure in a Facebook post on Monday, attributing the shutter to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had a great 37-year run,” the post reads. “I’ll carry these memories always.” The Barry’s Pizza location at William P. Hobby Airport is also marked as “temporarily” closed, and it’s unclear whether or not that location will continue to operate following the shutter of the flagship restaurant.

After experimenting with takeout pizza and pasta, Barry’s had been closed since March 28, with plans to “hibernate through the COVID-19 storm.” Houston’s pizza scene has taken a few tough losses over the past month. In addition to Barry’s, longtime Montrose pizzeria Dolce Vita also permanently closed its doors on May 24.

The announcement of Barry’s departure inspired an outpouring of emotion on Facebook for fans of the nostalgic pizza spot, with more than a thousand comments from devastated diners reminiscing about first dates, family celebrations, and other special occasions held at the restaurant.