Brookside’s Blue Grotto pizza shop will close this month

Brookside’s Blue Grotto, an upscale wood-fired pizza restaurant, plans to close on Feb. 21.

Partner James Landis said the landlord wanted a significant increase in rent.

“It was understandable that he wanted to increase it since we were under market (rates),” Landis said.

Landis said Blue Grotto was in negotiations for a new owner with a new concept to take over the space. However, negotiations with the landlord “unexpectedly” fell through over the weekend, he said. His partner, Fintan Molloy, is in Ireland. Fintan’s wife, Ann Molloy, is the third partner.

Gilchrist & Associates, which is representing the landlord, declined to comment.

Blue Grotto opened in June 2008 at 6324 Brookside Plaza.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 2:55 PM with the headline "Brookside’s Blue Grotto pizza shop will close this month."