The Rock Wood Fired Pizza owner Don Bellis announced Oct. 23 that six of seven remaining locations throughout Western Washington would shut down immediately.
“After 30 amazing years serving our communities, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our Rock restaurants at Renton, Covington, Federal Way, Puyallup, Tacoma, and Lacey,” Bellis shared on the company’s Facebook page. “This choice did not come easily — each restaurant has been part of countless family dinners, celebrations, and everyday moments shared with friends.”
Known for wood-fired pizzas, a heavy metal atmosphere and rock-n-roll themed cocktails in a small plastic bucket, The Rock’s first opening act was in 1995 in Tacoma, when it was called The Wedge. Over the decades, it had opened locations throughout Western Washington and had even opened locations in Oregon and Colorado.
Following the announcement, Bellis told The News Tribune that the economy was the reason for the closures. “With the rising minimum wages, the rising commodity costs, increases in rent, it’s very difficult to survive in business,” he said.
The last remaining The Rock in the area is located in Auburn at 1408 Lake Tapps Parkway East.
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