After 10 years of serving gnocchi and other traditional Italian dishes to Macomb County diners, the Gnocchi Italian Restaurant in Clinton Township is closing up shop.
The eatery on Garfield Road between 18 Mile and Canal roads in the Garfield Landing center will shut its doors for good at the end of dinner service on Saturday, Feb. 21, said executive chef and co-owner Jeff Heinzman.
“I decided not to sign another five-year lease contract” with his landlord, Heinzman said in a video posted on social media.
The restaurant was the only one of its kind in the United States that specialized in homemade ricotta gnocchi. The dishes were with Italian dumplings and including spinach gnocchi, seafood gnocchi, portabella mushroom gnocchi, and chicken, broccoli and cheese gnocchi.
Gnocchi Italian Restaurant co-owner and executive chef Jeff Heinzman. (SCREEN GRAB)
In his brief video, Heinzman did not say how many employees will be affected by the closure or if he plans to open elsewhere at a different location.
“After 10 years of operating here, there’s a lot of people that I’d like to thank,” he said. “Our wonderful staff, both current and past, thank you to all our loyal guests, and to my wife, Rene.”
Heinzman has more than 40 years of restaurant experience including teaching cooking classes, running restaurants, and serving as a consultant.
According to his LinkedIn account, he also worked as executive chef at Fore Lakes Golf Club in Algonac and Tryst Food and Spirits in Fair Haven.
“I will try to let you know what’s next for me,” Heinzman said in his video. “Thank you to all.”
Dining and Cooking