The founder of NYPD Pizza in Orlando said he has been forced to close one of his five stores thanks to out-of-control rent in the area—and he thinks many restaurateurs will commiserate.
It’s extremely rare for a pizza brand to send PMQ a press release when it closes a store. But Paul Russo, a veteran operator who opened the first NYPD Pizza location in Orlando in 1996, has a larger point to make. He said he hasn’t been able to reach a lease renewal deal with his landlord and will shutter his Metrowest location for good on Friday, October 24. And affordable leasing is not just a problem for him, he believes.
The press release states that the NYPD closure reflects a “growing trend affecting operators across the restaurant industry, where rent hikes, including instances of doubling lease costs, are becoming increasingly common and difficult to absorb.”
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“What’s happening isn’t just about small or family-run businesses anymore—it’s hitting everyone,” Russo said in the press release. “We’ve been hearing more and more about these aggressive rent increases, and now it’s happened to us. The terms we were presented with were simply unsustainable.”
The press release notes that many restaurant operators are getting “priced out of the very neighborhoods they helped to build and serve.”
Known for its New York-style pies, NYPD Pizza has racked up numerous national and regional awards over the years. It was named a Traveler’s Choice Restaurant by TripAdvisor for five straight years (2020-2024). It was also ranked No. 1 on FamilyDestinationsGuide.com’s list of Orlando’s top 25 pizzerias in 2023.
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A new NYPD Pizza location will open soon in Winter Park, Florida, under franchise owner Valerie Abreu. Meanwhile, according to the press release, the brand is “shifting its growth strategy to focus on smaller, more flexible store formats that allow for adaptability and efficiency in an unpredictable economic landscape.”
The company is also actively seeking a new corporate location in the Metrowest area. “We may be leaving this location, but we’re not leaving the community,” Russo added. “We’re incredibly grateful for 24 amazing years here, and we look forward to returning—when we can do so on terms that make sense for everyone involved.”
