A longtime Warren restaurant that recently had social media buzzing with sightings of a celebrity chef appears to have shuttered.
An internet search showed Firenze Restaurant & Pizzeria on East 10 Mile is “permanently closed,” per its Google listing.
The restaurant’s website reads “Firenze July 10, 1964 – June 21, 2025,” suggesting that the restaurant is no longer operating.
According to the Scanner of Warren Facebook page, “a text was sent out to waitresses telling them not to come in due to closure.”
More than 800 comments followed on the Scanner of Warren Facebook page, citing memories of the place, speculation of why the restaurant closed and other general comments about its closure. It appears that the closure was abrupt.
Frank Rocca, a son of the original owners, the late Maria and Pasquale Rocca, confirmed the closure to the Free Press, texting a photo of the sign on Firenze’s door that says it’s permanently closed.
It was June 1964 when Rocca’s parents opened the restaurant. Known over the years for its pizzas, salads and Italian food, a Firenze menu highlight was its steamed in the oven, fall-off-the-bone ribs.
The restaurant name, Firenze, is the Italian name for Florence, Italy, and the area where Rocca said his family is from.
During its six decades, Rocca said, there were eight owners. In a text message to the Free Press, Rocca said the original owners were his parents, Maria and Pasquale, and their three sons, Frank, Michael and John.“John and wife Helen then became the 2nd group of owners from the original 5,” according to Rocca’s text. “Lastly, John and Helen sold the restaurant to Lewis and Renee Dutton.”
The Duttons are the current owners. According to Michigan Liquor Control Commission, LGD III Holdings, Inc., holds an active liquor license for Firenze’s. Michigan Corporate records show Lewis Dutton listed as the resident agent for LGD III Holdings Inc.
“I worked for all three owners in different capacities,” Rocca told the Free Press.
While the sign on the restaurant door reads “closed permanently,” the restaurant phone message lists new hours, closed on Mondays, and a closure from July 4-7.
A few weeks ago, across various social media channels, posts of Gordon Ramsay sightings at the restaurant surfaced. The speculation was that Ramsay and a crew were in town filming episodes of his new show, “Secret Service,” on the Fox Network. The show aims to examine significant issues at struggling restaurants. Celebrity chef Ramsay also allegedly visited Boodles restaurant in Madison Heights
Both Boodles and Firenze restaurants were closed during the time of the Ramsay sighting posts.According to a previously reported Firenze Restaurant and Pizzeria Facebook page, the family-owned restaurant was reopening on June 10, with a “freshened up menu” promising customers that they will be “WOWWED!” by new menu items. Another post said the restaurant made “improvements to its kitchen and dining room.”
Ramsay’s show “Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service” premiered in May.
Per the Fox TV network website, the weekly show features Chef Ramsay, with the help of a “secret source” delivering inside restaurant intel on “major issues facing each restaurant” that is featured on the episode. The source helps “Ramsay infiltrate the restaurant after-hours for a dramatic nighttime black light kitchen investigation that reveals more filth and grossness than ever before” and other issues and problems the restaurant is facing.
Rocca confirmed to the Free Press that the interior of the restaurant was recently remodeled.
