Mike Isabella Says More Restaurants in His Empire May Close

Graffiato’s been dark for about a week, but now it’s officially the end of the line for the pizzeria. Chef Mike Isabella had been mulling over the fate of his seven-year-old flagship restaurant, as reports of rent-related woes surfaced. Now Isabella tells Washingtonian that Graffiato is definitely closed, and more of his restaurants might be next on the chopping block.

“I’m definitely thinking of closing one or two more and focusing on the rest,” Isabella told the magazine, saying that he was also thinking of selling existing concepts including his ramen shop in Ballston (Yona), calling it an example of a one-off “that you’re not going to do more of.”

Isabella said last week that the sexual harassment lawsuit against him and his business partners hurt his restaurants, and now he says that he expanded and opened too many restaurants too quickly. “It was definitely too much,” Isabella told the Washingtonian.

• Graffiato DC Has Officially Closed—And May Not Be the Last Shutter for Mike Isabella [Washingtonian]
• The Fate of Now-Closed Graffiato Will Be Decided Next Week [EDC]
• Mike Isabella’s First Restaurant, Graffiato, Is Closed [EDC]
• Mike Isabella Is Selling Graffiato in Richmond [EDC]
• All Previous Mike Isabella Coverage [EDC]