Carluccio's Closes Rockville, Alexandria Restaurants

ROCKVILLE, MD -- Carluccio's, the U.K.-based Italian market and restaurant chain, has closed its Rockville and Old Town Alexandria locations.

The Washington Business Journal reported that Carluccio's officials decided to close after performance reviews. "After a careful review of our U.S. performance we have decided to close our two restaurants in the area," a spokesperson said, according to the Journal.

The Carluccio's in Rockville was a part of the Pike and Rose development. Jill McCarthy, the Pike and Rose marketing director, said "we're disappointed to learn about the closing of Carluccio's U.S. locations," the Journal reported.

The two Carluccio's locations were their only ones in the United States. They operate over 80 locations in the U.K., Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

"While trading was encouraging, the competitive nature of the U.S. market meant margins were lower than anticipated and lower than other markets," the spokesperson told the Washington Business Journal.

Article image by Emily Leayman, Patch Staff