House of Pizza Closes Downtown Location Due to Staff Shortages

(KNSI) – The owner of the House of Pizza says its downtown St. Cloud location will remain closed until more help can be found.

Owner Brandon Testa said the problem is that many employees didn’t return after Minnesota’s COVID-19 restrictions and closures were lifted, adding “We can’t run a business the way that we want to and the way that this business has grown and been successful in this community without people helping us to do it.”

He says recent incidents in downtown St. Cloud had nothing to do with his decision to close the 5th Avenue location and hopes to someday be able to reopen the store. Testa says he still owns the building and has no plans to sell it.

“All I can say is that time will tell and a lot of different circumstances have to happen in order for us to be in a position where we feel it makes sense to reopen.”

The downtown location closed in mid-November.

Testa says many independent restaurants are in the same position and are trying to figure out how to attract and keep workers. He says many restaurants have cut down their menu, reduced their hours, or close a few days a week to give their remaining staff a break.

There is one bright spot because of the closure. He says House of Pizza has been able to streamline its operations at the other two locations, which are as busy as ever. Employees from the downtown location were offered hours at those restaurants in West St. Cloud and Sartell. Testa says they are as busy as ever and thanks the community for their continued support.

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