Sue McCombs and Jeff McLellan have been going to Grandma Penny’s in North Fort Myers since it opened in November 2020. They dropped in Tuesday afternoon for the final time before the pizza and pasta restaurant closes its doors for good on Friday, July 26.
“I am so sad they are leaving,” McCombs said. “I’ve never had a meal here that wasn’t delicious. I like everything they do.”
The owners — husband and wife DJ and Carole Dean, and DJ’s mother Terri — made the announcement via Facebook on Sunday.
“It was a very hard decision for us, but I guess it’s the right one for now,” Carole said. “We saw signs that helped make the decision a little easier.”
With 9, 10 and 13-year-old children, Carole cited spending time with family as one of the main reasons for the closure.
“We work 60 hours a week,” she said. “We are always here. Then there is overhead, inflation, the (Caloosahatchee) Bridge closing and finding employees.”
And all that was after opening during the pandemic and getting through Hurricane Ian.
“We were doing good too,” Carole said. “Our community is very loyal. Customers are saying our food is so good and asking why we are closing. It’s just time to prioritize ourselves and our family.”
DJ and Carole worked together at Citrola’s Italian Restaurant on McGregor before opening Grandma Penny’s.
"Richie (Citrola) taught DJ most of what he knows about running a family business," Carole said.
When the Deans opened Grandma Penny's in Amore Brick Oven Pizza’s former spot, they had DJ’s grandmother and Terri’s mother in mind.
“She passed about a year before we opened,” Carole said. “We named it in her honor."
Pizza and pasta dishes were very popular as were the subs (especially the Philly) served in homemade bread.
"Everything on the menu is a combination of all three of us,” Carole said. “The salads are mine, the lasagna is Terri’s and everything else is DJ’s. It's all family recipes. Our pizzas are crispy, no flop.”
Will there be more pizza in their future?
“We’re going to take a little time off and see what God has planned,” Carole said. "We will try to not be so busy. Then who knows? This was a big place for us. Maybe once the kids are older we could do a smaller place. But it’s family first now. Kids are only kids once.”
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The next few days are planned out, however.
“Our entire menu should be good to go through Thursday. Our aim is to be here Friday for pizzas only. It will be our last hurrah.”
Grandma Penny’s Pizza & Pasta, 4353 Hancock Bridge Parkway, North Fort Myers; open noon to 8 p.m. through Friday, July 26; (239) 217-0584; grandmapennyspizza.com or find on Facebook
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Popular North Fort Myers pizza place to close unexpectedly after nearly four years
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