Carr Mill Mall’s Panzanella closes after 14 years

Panzanella restaurant in Carr Mill Mall is shutting down after 14 years of business.

The restaurant is part of the Weaver Street Market Cooperative and originally opened to feature locally grown food and fresh ingredients.

Ruffin Slater, Weaver Street Market’s founder and general manager, said Panzanella complimented the market’s grocery store and its opening was another way to show the town’s residents how to buy local food.

But Slater said today there are many other restaurants serving local food in Carrboro. He said because of the competition, sales are down and costs are up and it is no longer possible for the restaurant to operate.

“Since the recession in 2008, the number of diners has gone down about 25 percent,” Slater said. “The lease is up at the end of the year, which is when the restaurant is set to close.”

Despite the decline in customers, Weaver Street Market’s 2013 Annual Report shows an increase in gross profit.

In 2011, Weaver Street Market made $26,955,343 in sales, while the report shows it has made $32,210,970 in sales so far in 2013. For 2013, the market’s gross profit is $11,811,113.

The report also shows the market had an eight percent sales growth in 2013, and its profit was up by 2.6 percent.

Slater said there is no plan for Panzanella to reopen at any point in the future. Carr Mill Mall, the restaurant’s landlord, is currently looking for another tenant to rent the space.

Slater said he has received a lot of feedback from customers who are sad about the closing of Panzanella. He said he has received several emails from people saying they appreciate the restaurant and will miss eating there.

He said Weaver Street Market managers are now focusing on the future of the restaurant’s staff.

“We are very concerned about what happens with the employees,” Slater said. “Many of them will have other jobs within Weaver Street, while others will move on to other jobs.”

Slater said the co-op has a transition plan for all employees. Panzanella’s employees are being offered job search assistance and will continue to maintain health coverage after the restaurant has shut down.

Paola Cisarano, the restaurant’s front manager, said employees are sad about the restaurant closing.

“It was definitely shocking news when we heard that the restaurant was closing,” Cisarano said. “We are part of the Carrboro community, and we have a lot of loyal customers.”

But Cisarano said she understands why the restaurant has to shut down.

“Of course it is always sad when a business closes that has done so well for so long, but we have a positive attitude about it.”

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