Red Vespa pizzeria in Solon is now closed

SOLON — Red Vespa, a pizzeria staple on Solon’s Main Street, has closed. The restaurant’s last day serving Neapolitan style pizza was April 3.

“With limited staff availability it has become difficult to meet our commitment to great food and great service,” owners Aziz and Angie Longou said in a social media post on April 4, after the restaurant closed.

The Longous left open the possibility of the restaurant reopening in the future, but said they were unsure of a reopening date in their post.

In the time since it opened more 6 years ago, Red Vespa has made a splash in the Iowa restaurant scene. General manager Krista Stramel was named one of the 40 “Women to Watch” in hospitality by the Iowa Restaurant Association in 2020.

The business, located at 208 E. Main St., is for sale. Those with interest in purchasing Red Vespa can contact Angie Longou at alongou@skogman.com or Mark Lynch at marklynch@skogman.com.

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