Junior’s Pizza, a cherished establishment in Atlanta’s Summerhill neighborhood, has closed its doors, citing the financial challenges that continue to impact local businesses.
The pizzeria, known for its New York-style pies, announced its immediate closure, marking another small business lost to the difficult economic climate. In a heartfelt social media post, owners Alex and Jennifer Aton shared their struggle: “We tried to provide quality pizza to customers and a living wage to employees simultaneously; we thought it could be done, and we’ve proven it can’t.”
The closure highlights a broader trend of small businesses in Atlanta shutting down due to economic pressures. “Atlanta is on the brink of having a lot of locally owned businesses close due to the economy,” the owners wrote in their post.
Junior’s Pizza started as a pop-up delivery service in 2017 before opening its brick-and-mortar location in Summerhill in 2019. Despite its popularity, the business faced growing financial strain, compounded by rising inflation and changing consumer habits following the pandemic.
The closure of Junior’s Pizza is part of a larger wave of business shutdowns in the area, with other local establishments like Best End Brewing and Pancake Social also closing or being listed for sale. Ash Parker, senior vice president of Richard Bowers and Company, pointed to rising rents in prime locations as a major factor in these closures. “What we’re experiencing is an increase in rent due to high demand,” he said.
Customers have expressed their sadness over the loss, not only of a favorite food spot but of a beloved community gathering place that hosted events like drag bingo and trivia nights. Junior’s Pizza, which gained fame for offerings like “Mike’s Hot Honey” pizza, leaves behind a lasting legacy in the neighborhood.
After seven years, the owners have decided to move on, prioritizing family and stepping away from the business that brought joy and delicious pizza to many.
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