A longtime Houston restaurant has closed its doors.
Barry’s Pizza, at 6003 Richmond Ave., announced on social media Tuesday that it has permanently closed due to the shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Well friends, it’s official. COVID-19 killed Barry’s. We had a great 37-year run. I’ll carry these memories always,” said owner Barry N. Childers.
In March, restaurants were temporarily closed for dining and limited to drive-thru, takeout and delivery. The pivot to takeout was short term at Barry’s. Childers said via a Facebook video in late March that the change in operations was not feasible.
“It’s 37 years of my life,” Childers said via a Facebook video on March 28. “My entire adult career has been Barry’s Pizza, so stopping that even temporarily is difficult.”
Childers first opened Barry’s Pizza on Richmond Ave. in 1983, adding a now-defunct location in Stafford as well as an outpost at William P. Hobby Airport over the years. It’s unclear if the Hobby Airport restaurant has also closed.
A fire on Feb. 13, 2009, caused an estimated $30,000 in damage to the original restaurant; however, it reopened the following day.
Along with Barry’s Pizza, several other Houston restaurants have announced closures during the pandemic including Treebeards Market Square, set to close June 26, and The Tasting Room, Uptown Park, which shutters May 30.
As of Wednesday, Childers had not responded for comment.
