Rome Pizza and Subs, the Friendship Heights shop that has served the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Fessenden Street for more than 15 years, will close permanently Saturday, Aug. 15.

The reason: owner Terry Smoot suffered a stroke in June, and the family decided it could not keep the restaurant running without him. The shop announced the closure on Instagram, writing that Aug. 15 would be its last day of business and that the closing was not the goodbye the family had hoped for.

The neighborhood noticed.

After DMV food content creator Yasmin, who posts as @yazieatsgood, shared the news on Instagram and TikTok on Sunday, Aug. 9, customers flooded the small shop at 5000 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Her Instagram post drew nearly 3,000 likes and 45 comments; the TikTok version topped 3,200 likes. WUSA9 reported on Aug. 11 that the social media attention brought an unexpected rush of customers in the restaurant's final days.

The Smoot family (Terry, Glenda, Chris, Christian and David) purchased Rome Pizza and Subs in 2025, taking over a neighborhood institution that had already been operating at that corner for more than a decade. The restaurant serves pizza, subs and halal pepperoni options, and is open daily except Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. through its final day.

The closure adds to a difficult stretch for D.C.'s independent restaurant scene. MASTIHA Greek Foods at Union Market is also closing Saturday, Aug. 15. Greene Turtle at Navy Yard was recently evicted, and HILO Poke & Sushi on 18th Street in Adams Morgan has shut down.

Still, the broader trend has improved. The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington counted 32 closures citywide through June 2026, down 43% from 56 during the same period in 2025, according to Axios. D.C.'s minimum wage climbed to $18.40 per hour in July, the highest of any state, a factor industry groups cite as ongoing pressure on small operators.

For Friendship Heights residents who want one last slice, Rome Pizza and Subs is open through Saturday at 5000 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The shop is closed Sundays, so Friday, Aug. 14, is the last full weekday to visit.