A culinary staple is closing its doors this week after nearly 30 years in Old Town.
The outside signage of Faccia Luna (823 S. Washington Street) has been taken down, and customers have been handed a note that says the following:
Dear Faccia Luna guests,
After 27 years in Alexandria we are closing our doors on Saturday, Dec. 23. Thank you for all of your loyal patronage.
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
-Dr. Seuss
Update (12/16)
We are trying to keep up with the recent outpouring of support! Thank you for your patience and understanding!
Penn State grads Bill McFadden and Joe Corey opened their first Faccia Luna in Old Town in 1996, and later opened locations in Arlington (closed in 2018) and back home at State College, Pennsylvania.
After this week, the State College location is their sole pizzeria. No reason for the closure was given.
In 2015 and 2016, Faccia Luna’s signature pies earned back-to-back top marks by being voted “best pizza” from the Washington City Paper. After winning the distinction, the restaurant released the following statement:
Pizzerias have come and gone, presidents have come and gone, even those critically acclaimed pizzerias have come and gone and still Faccia Luna has met the “Taste of Time.” It is a neighborhood kind of a place serving excellent pizza. It is a destination first-date restaurant with over 300 first dates that have led to marriage. So as we look forward to another quarter century of serving local Washingtonians, we urge those who haven’t dined with us to come in and get the “real deal!” Super good pizza, the Faccia Luna way!!! If It Ain’t Faccia Luna, It Ain’t Pizza.
Faccia Luna is open from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and from 2:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.