Another beloved establishment in the Bay Area is shutting down due to skyrocketing rent. The surprising part? The landlord is the city itself.
Zio Fraedo’s, a cherished waterfront restaurant in Vallejo known for its hearty Italian dishes and fresh seafood, is closing its doors this weekend after a tense lease negotiation. This restaurant has been a local favorite for two decades.
Owners Tony and Sherry LoForte expressed their disappointment, explaining that they had to make this tough decision because they could not agree with their landlord—the city of Vallejo—on a new lease that would have dramatically increased their rent, making it financially unfeasible to continue operating.
In an Instagram update, Zio Fraedo’s stated, “After 20 incredible years, it is with very heavy hearts that we share some difficult news.”
This closure signifies the end of an era for a place that has been a go-to for locals. It’s worth noting that even a prime location and years of community goodwill couldn’t spare this family-run restaurant from the difficulties plaguing California’s dining scene.
“The economic environment has been challenging with tariffs and rising food prices, but ultimately, the new rent was just unmanageable for us,” LoForte shared.
He chose not to disclose the specific amount of the proposed rent increase. A city representative, Robert Briseño, defended their approach to renting public properties, stating that they have to juggle the needs of tenants along with their responsibilities to taxpayers.
Briseño added that the city aims to ensure its properties serve the community while also fulfilling financial commitments.
Though the original Zio Fraedo’s location in Pleasant Hill will remain open, providing some solace to loyal patrons, the Vallejo branch had been facing challenges well before the rent issue escalated. Post-pandemic, it struggled to regain its lunch crowd, leading the owners to cut back on lunch hours and lean on private events and banquets to maintain operations.
The impending closure also leaves many employees in a precarious situation; however, about 20 staff members have been offered jobs at the Pleasant Hill location.
