Lil Ronnie’s, the quick-serve pizzeria tucked into Tremont at 2365 Professor Ave., is closing its doors Monday, Oct. 26. The shop’s owners, Brian Moss and Brian Holleran, who also own Il Rione in Gordon Square, have decided not to renew their lease on the space and will instead put their full attention back into the original restaurant.
Holleran confirmed the decision not to renew the lease, according to Cleveland Scene, which first reported the closure. The two had signed a three-year lease for Lil Ronnie’s, and rather than keep juggling two operations, the pair opted to run one place instead of expanding further, per the same report.
Lil Ronnie’s occupied the storefront that was formerly home to Edison’s Pizza, next door to Edison’s Pub, a spot where a pizza shop had been a fixture for more than 15 years. cleveland.com reported in November 2023 that Il Rione planned to open the slice shop in that former Edison’s Pizza storefront, with Holleran describing the partnership he shares with Moss in ownership of Il Rione. Before that, the space briefly operated as Edison’s Next Door Pizza, closing just a few months after opening, cleveland.com noted at the time.
A Different Kind of Slice Shop
Lil Ronnie’s was designed as a distinct operation from Il Rione’s Gordon Square location rather than a simple satellite outpost. The shop made its dough on-site, and its pies were served in a style different from what diners find at Il Rione, according to the article. Its menu, built around slices and whole pies, also differed from the full-service offerings at Il Rione in Detroit Shoreway…