Pinal Today

Rosati's Pizza Shop has announced that it was closing its locations in Ahwatukee and at the Promenade at Casa Grande, citing high operating costs and staff shortages.

“We really enjoyed serving the community in Casa Grande and Ahwatukee,” General manager Dane Logsdon Jr. told Pinal Central in a story published Dec. 28.

Logsdon said it was hard to hire employees and manage salary increases on top of the rising prices of products and supplies.

“On Monday after some discussions with the owners, we felt like it was the right thing to do with the market and the way it’s going right now. The safest thing to do, unfortunately, is to close both locations at this time,” he said.

In the end, Logsdon said, there were too many factors working against the company.

“The increased pressures on business costs haven’t helped, it’s a combination of just everything — pricing, minimum wages going up, you name it, it’s been difficult,” he said.

He added that the company has been active in the community and had wanted to continue that trend.

“We wish we could have been here longer and done more for the community and with the community," he said, "But the owners felt like that was the direction to go, and I can’t say they’re wrong.”

The company had placed a sign on the door of the Casa Grande location on Dec. 28 and left a recorded message to customers who called for deliveries.

“Unfortunately effective immediately, we have decided to close the store,” the message stated. “We would like to thank our customers for their business and support over the past year and a half.”

Logsdon added that the company hoped this wasn't the end.

“It was a great, great run and hopefully sometime in the future we can do something else and keep it going,” he said.