The future of a popular chain restaurant in Suffolk looks to be under threat after signs went up suggesting the building was for sale.
The Zizzi restaurant in St Nicholas Street, Ipswich has been closed for some time following the coronavirus pandemic.
However, while many other restaurants have re-opened their doors, both in a takeaway and eat-in capacity, Zizzi has yet to welcome back diners in Ipswich.
Last month Zizzi’s owners, the Azzurri Group, announced that it had been acquired by investment management firm TowerBrook.
As a result of changes being made at the company, Azzurri Group said that 75 of its sites, which also include the brands ASK Italian and Coco Di Mama, would be closing permanently with 1200 members of staff being made redundant.
At the time the group were not able to confirm which of the sites would be closing on a permanent basis.
However, this week signs were erected on the Ipswich building indicating that it was now available for either let or sale.
Additionally, the Ipswich venue is no longer listed on Zizzi’s website as a selectable restaurant for bookings.
Nor is it included in the list as a temporarily closed site.
Those searching the website are now told that the closest location for Ipswich diners is in Colchester or Braintree.
Speaking last month, Steve Holmes, CEO of Azzurri Group, said: “The Covid-19 crisis has had a profound impact on the casual dining sector, bringing many businesses like ours to a standstill.
“Despite being a successful operator, the immediate loss of revenue during lockdown meant that we have had to make some incredibly difficult decisions to protect the business for the long term.
“It is with deep sadness that this process will result in the permanent closure of a number of sites and that we must say goodbye to greatly valued employees across our brands.”
If the closure is confirmed, it would be the second Italian restaurant in Ipswich to be confirmed as closing its doors this week following the announcement that Pizza Express would be leaving its site in LLoyds Avenue.
The Azzurri Group were contacted for further information about the Ipswich branch but did not respond.
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