Bavaro's Pizza founder reflects on Sarasota closure
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jul 22, 2026

Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana and Pastaria has closed its Sarasota location in a move that founder Dan Bavaro says will ultimately chart a path for future growth.

The Tampa-based pizzeria chain, which has locations in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater Beach, closed its Sarasota restaurant on July 19. It opened in 2019 and employed around 25 people, whom Bavaro is working to rehire at his other restaurants or connect with colleagues in the hospitality industry.

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