HARRISBURG — The Italian-casual chain Romano’s Macaroni Grill (Macaroni Grill) has quietly closed its last remaining restaurant in Pennsylvania, officially wiping the brand’s footprint from the state. The shuttering of the Harrisburg location at 2531 Brindle Drive — after roughly two decades of operation in Dauphin County — marks the end of an era (albeit not a homegrown one like Isaac’s) for Pennsylvanians who grew up dining there.
The notice on the door simply reads “permanently closed,” with no immediate explanation provided. That Harrisburg unit was reportedly the chain’s final Pennsylvania outpost.
Nationwide, the brand that was born in 1988 once peaked at over 200 restaurants has shrunk dramatically. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017 — when it reported roughly $23 million in secured debt — the chain endeavored a restructuring to cut “legacy liabilities.”
At the time of its bankruptcy filing, the chain operated roughly 93 restaurants across 25 states. Over the years, it has shuttered tens of locations as part of a gradual — but persistent — decline amid shifting consumer preferences…