Mafiaoza’s Pizzeria and Neighborhood Pub is tentatively slated to cease operations in 12South on Oct. 6 after 21 years.
The owners of the restaurant, one of 12South's initial then-new businesses following the district's reinvention in the early 2000s, announced the closing via social media. Multiple media reports note the closing is due in large part to increasing operational costs.
Business partners Michael Dolan, Lars Kopperud and Brett Corrieri launched Mafiaoza's, located at 2400 12th Ave., in 2003.
"The path to success that we needed to take after the pandemic looks so much clearer in hindsight," the owners posted. "The new way to operate in the service industry is no longer service focused. Higher prices, lower staff, automated systems, etc., took away from our identity. We decided to hold onto the things that made us uniquely us. If that was our downfall, so be it. We did not compromise who we are."
Mafiaoza's (stylized as "MAFIAoZA's") operates in a building owned by Mary McMillen and Martha Thompson, who own or have owned and sold multiple 12South properties over many years.
The Mafiaoza's owners also operated sister restaurant and bar Embers Ski Lodge in the same building. The status of that business is unclear.
In 2015, the Mafiaoza's owners opened an outpost in Franklin at The Factory at Franklin. That business closed in 2023.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
