Valentia's Pizza to Close in September

After 18 months of serving up pizzas with custom crusts and a secret sauce, Dan and Ginger Valentia announced Sunday that their restaurant will close this fall.

The couple posted a note to their customers and friends on Facebook.

"It is with great sadness that we are announcing that our last day open will be Saturday September 28, 2013 due to health concerns. We will continue to serve you with the care and dedication that we have taken since we opened and will not be reducing the quality of the food we put out or our service," they wrote.

Dan told Patch Tuesday that Ginger's health is prompting the move. Specifically, her body is rejecting her second kidney transplant and her blood pressure is spiking dangerously.

"Doctors told us to reduce her stress as much as we could, and, unfortunately, the restaurant is the most stressful thing in our lives right now," he explained. 

Dan admitted the decision wasn't made easily because while the going was hard, the restaurant saw a 50 percent increase in traffic last month compared to June 2012, and he felt reaching the three-year threshold would have proven the venture a success.

"More people are coming in and coming back," he said. "We would need triple the amount of traffic to make (the pizzeria) work on its own, but we don't have the time because of the health issues."

Reaction to the Valentias' announcement was swift and supportive.

Karen Hamilton wrote, "So sorry. I only recently discovered your awesome pizzas. I do wish you well and whatever the health issues, may they be completely healed."

Dawn Kirchenberg Johnson was also sympathetic.

"So sorry to hear ... Your pizza was amazing! Prayers for your health!" she posted.

Sturtevant Trustee Chris Larsen noted that Valentia's pizza will be missed, but the couple's value to the community goes well beyond the restaurant.

"While I completely understand why, I am saddened by the loss of our favorite place," he wrote in the comments to the Facebook note. "However the friends we have made make up for the loss of the restaurant. Thank you for your service to the community."

The Valentia's moved to Sturtevant from New York in 2006 to start a shipping business, but were encouraged by their friends and neighbors to open a restaurant after serving up homemade pies in their own kitchen. Dan says the shipping business is still a go, and he and Ginger aren't moving away from Sturtevant.

"We have no intention of moving," he said. "We like it out here so we're not going anywhere."

Dan also has no intention of revealing the recipe of his secret pizza sauce, either, mostly because he's hoping someone will want to take a risk to step in and take over the restaurant.

"I am willing to train someone to take over, and I'll work to make the crust and the sauce so the secret has to stay that way," he confirmed. "So far though, we haven't had anyone raise their hand, but you never know."

If anyone is interested in learning more about taking over Valentia's, contact Dan at (262) 456-1830.