Fireside Pies, a pioneering pizza chain in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, is closing its last location in Grapevine. The restaurant, located at 1285 S Main St., will shut its doors on August 31.
A spokesperson for Fireside Pies stated that the Grapevine location was not generating enough business to remain open. The restaurant had been serving customers for nearly 17 years.
“On Saturday, August 31st, Fireside Pies will be closing its store for good,” the chain announced. “We want to thank you for all the support over the past 20 years. Come say goodbye to us and our delicious food in Grapevine. We will miss you.”
The Grapevine location, which opened in December 2007, was the only remaining store from a chain that once boasted six locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Founded in 2004 by Tristan Simon and chef Nick Badovinus, Fireside Pies revolutionized the local pizza scene with its wood-fired pies featuring airy crusts and upscale toppings. Despite its early success, the chain struggled in recent years.
Fireside Pies was acquired by the Chalak Mitra Group in 2014 and then by Golden Tree, owner of the Golden Chick chain, in 2018. Neither ownership change managed to sustain the brand’s original concept effectively.
A significant blow came in December 2023 with the closure of the flagship location on Henderson Avenue, which had been a staple for 20 years. A company spokesperson attributed the closure to the pandemic’s impact, noting that the business could not recover to pre-pandemic levels.
Following the Henderson Avenue closure, Fireside Pies was left with two locations: Grapevine and Fort Worth. The Fort Worth location also closed quietly in February 2024.
The chain faced increasing competition from local pizza concepts like Cane Rosso and PieTap, as well as national brands like Modern Market. As new pizza trends emerged, Fireside Pies struggled to maintain its early success and attract customers.