After 25 years of serving Orlando’s Dr Phillips, Metrowest and Windermere communities, NYPD Pizza will be closing its Metrowest location on Friday, October 24. As mentioned in the PMQ Magazine article: Rent Hikes Are Out of Control, Pizzeria Operator Says: ‘It’s Hitting Everyone’

This comes after being unable to reach a lease renewal agreement with the property’s landlord. The closure is part of a growing trend affecting operators across the restaurant industry—where rent hikes, including instances of doubling lease costs, are becoming increasingly common and difficult to absorb.

“What’s happening isn’t just about small or family-run businesses anymore—it’s hitting everyone,” said Paul Russo, Founder of NYPD Pizza. “We’ve been hearing more and more about these aggressive rent increases, and now it’s happened to us. The terms we were presented with were simply unsustainable.”

As commercial landlords continue pushing for higher returns, many restaurant operators—regardless of size or history—are finding themselves priced out of the very neighborhoods they helped to build and serve. NYPD Pizza’s departure from Metrowest reflects a broader industry-wide challenge where the gap between lease expectations and economic viability is widening.

Despite this setback, the NYPD Pizza brand remains strong and forward-looking. The company is shifting its growth strategy to focus on smaller, more flexible store formats that allow for adaptability and efficiency in an unpredictable economic landscape.

A new NYPD Pizza location will soon open in Winter Park, led by franchise owner Valerie Abreu, who brings a strong passion for hospitality and a commitment to continuing the brand’s tradition of great food and community connection.

NYPD Pizza will continue serving Central Florida through its four existing locations, with additional stores currently in development. The company is also actively seeking a new corporate location in the Metrowest area.

“We may be leaving this location, but we’re not leaving the community,” Russo added. “We’re incredibly grateful for 24 amazing years here, and we look forward to returning—when we can do so on terms that make sense for everyone involved.”