SUDDEN SHUTTERS
San Antonio pizzeria locked out at The Rim over alleged unpaid rent
Is Russo's Pizzeria closed for good?
Cue David Bowie’s “Changes.” Russo’s New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen has been locked out of its sole San Antonio location, the latest dining shakeup at The Rim.
In the October 19 notice, owner Big V Property Group alleges the tenant is in default for alleged unpaid rent. Nearby, another sign advertises the 17631 La Cantera Pkwy space.
The concept was founded by Texas entrepreneur Anthony Russo, who opened a few Italian concepts before launching Russo’s New York Pizzeria in 1992. The franchise first came to San Antonio in 2015 as Russo’s Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen, a more upscale version of its fast-casual restaurants.
The location has seen a lot of churn since then. In 2018, Russo’s corporate office took over from the original franchise owner, with plans to bring five to 10 new locations to the area. That never happened, and the location eventually switched back over to the franchise model — most recently operated by local LLC Carma & Laurus.
In all of its incarnations, the restaurant was known for New York-style pizza and red sauce Italian American classics such as cheese ravioli, calamari, lasagna, and eggplant Parmesan.
The logo might have changed a few times, but the decor — including a black-and-white triptych of Sophia Loren — largely remained the same throughout its run. Even after a renovation in January, the biggest change seemed to be the installation of three flat screens.
It’s not clear whether Russo’s has abandoned the San Antonio market entirely. The phone number, reservation platform, and online ordering system are still active for the restaurant as of October 29.
Carma & Laurus’ TABC permit lists a status change on October 28, though it still shows as active. The social media accounts for the restaurant, for their part, have been dark since May.
Messages left at The Rim’s management office, Big V, the San Antonio location, and the corporate office were not immediately returned.
The lockout comes during a turbulent few years for the Northwest Side shopping center. The Rustic, the live music venue partially owned by Pat Green, closed in 2024. Tiago’s, The General Public, Bowl & Barrel, Mash’d, and Salsita all left in 2025.
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