Rosmarino D'Italia Set To Close In Del Ray

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Rosemarino D'Italia in Del Ray, one of Chef Rosemeri Espinoza's two locations, is set to close after eight years.

The restaurant announced the upcoming closure at 1905 Mount Vernon Avenue via social media. The last day will be Wednesday, July 28.

According to the restaurant's statement, Rosemarino D'Italia adapted to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with support from customers. However, the business ultimately had landlord troubles.

"Unfortunately, we didn’t get the support we needed from our landlord and the 8 years we had enjoyed being together wasn’t enough to help through this unprecedented time," read the statement. "We felt that we were not being treated equally and fairly during this past year of hardship that every business had been forced into."

Chef and owner Rosemeri Espinoza opened the Del Ray restaurant in 2013. Originally from Bolivia, she arrived in the U.S. at age 18 and developed a passion for Italian cuisine working for Italian chefs in DC. After becoming a sous chef in Alexandria, she opened her own restaurant on March 21, 2013, one of her son's birthdays. Six years later, she opened the second Rosemarino D'Italia location at 1714 Connecticut Ave NW in DC's Dupont Circle, a location she used to work at. The restaurants specialize in Northern and Southern Italian cuisine, with a menu of pastas, risotto, seafood and more.

The restaurant said it will miss the Del Ray community and everyone who supported Rosemarino D'Italia. Customers are encouraged to visit the Dupont Circle location at 1714 Connecticut Ave NW in DC.