Months after its owner said the business was for sale and they were working with a potential buyer, an Ellsworth pizzeria remains closed and its equipment is being liquidated.
DragonFire Pizza has been located at the Mill Mall in Ellsworth since 2018, when a former employee at Finelli’s Pizza on the other side of town decided to open his own eatery.
DragonFire quickly became a fixture in Ellsworth’s pizza landscape, which includes Finelli’s and other pizzerias such as Zeppa’s on Water Street, Pat’s Pizza on High Street, Angelo’s on Main Street, Charlie’s on Spruce Street and a local Pizza Hut. After its founder sold the business to its current owners, it remained a popular destination for families and students at the nearby city schools.
This past spring, however, the business closed for what its owners hoped would be a short hiatus. But by mid-May a potential sale had fallen through and it remained closed.
“We so miss you and wish you all the best and that you’ll find a new owner,” one customer posted on the pizzeria’s Facebook page.
“I miss you and all of our loyal customers!” one of the owners posted in response. “Not to mention our food!”
Earlier this month, the owners scheduled an equipment sale and open house for anyone looking to buy items from the business.
On Monday, two “For Sale” signs were visible taped up on the windows by DragonFire’s front entrance.
Jessica Butler, who co-owns the business with her husband Bill Butler, said that they have not had any serious interest from other potential buyers since May. She said that staffing issues and mounting bills prevented them from re-opening for the summer, and that they decided to close down altogether and either sell the business as a whole or its equipment piece by piece.
“We’re hoping to be out by the end of the month,” she said of their leased space in the Mill Mall.
She said she was grateful for her loyal customers, but that a few area restaurants are for sale and that she and her husband want to have more time to spend with their young children.
“Almost daily, I have people contacting me and asking when we’re going to open back up,” Butler said.