Two Prominent Pizzerias Close Their Doors in Historic Rimini Center

Two well-known Italian pizzeria chains have abruptly closed their doors in the historic center of Rimini, dealing a blow to the area's commercial landscape. Both Berberè and Pizzium, widely recognized brands with locations across Italy, permanently lowered their shutters within days of each other after struggling to maintain sustainable business models.

Berberè originally opened its doors in December 2023 at the corner of Via Tempio Malatestiano and Via Giordano Bruno. Meanwhile, Pizzium arrived even more recently, securing a prime spot on the newly renovated Piazza Malatesta with an outdoor dining area overlooking the historic Castel Sismondo.

Despite their prominent addresses and established brand recognition, neither location could overcome the underlying economic pressures of the local market. Salvatore Aloe, co-founder of the group behind Berberè alongside his brother Matteo Aloe, addressed the closure by pointing to a lack of consistent customer volume.

"We needed steady customer flows throughout the entire week, both at lunch and at dinner, but this balance did not take hold in Rimini," Salvatore Aloe explained, noting that the restaurant failed to generate the necessary business volume despite serving 200 covers on its final Saturday.

The closures highlight a growing divide within Rimini's food and beverage sector. While citywide data suggests the restaurant industry remains relatively stable—growing from 1,110 businesses in 2010 to 1,154 by 2025, with restaurants offering full service increasing from 342 to 356 between 2015 and 2025—individual business stability tells a more complex story.

Statistics indicate that full-service restaurants in the historic center experienced a notable growth of over 25 percent, rising from 114 to 143 establishments during the same ten-year period. This surge led many entrepreneurs to view the historic district as a lucrative investment.

However, local industry observers and operators now fear that the center may have reached its saturation point, triggering a potential downturn. The primary challenge facing these businesses is a lack of steady weekday patronage.

While restaurants often fill their dining rooms on Saturday nights and draw decent weekend crowds, foot traffic tends to dry up significantly during lunch hours and throughout the middle of the week. This uneven demand ultimately proved fatal for both Berberè and Pizzium, leaving vacant storefronts in locations that had recently seen heavy investment and revitalization.