HARRISVILLE -- Two well-known Harrisville restaurants have closed.
Boccia's Pizza Bistro and Moore's Halibut House both closed their doors at the end of 2011.
Boccia's had been in business since 2001 and under current ownership since 2004. Nick VanArsdell, the restaurant's general manager, said that the overhead was too high and the restaurant wasn't able to turn enough of a profit to keep the business going.
"We took over thinking we could do better, and we did the best we could, but with the economy right now, it's hard," VanArsdell said.
Boccia's wished its customers a final farewell on its Facebook page on Dec. 31.
Boccia's old location at 1045 N. Washington Blvd.¬ probably won't be empty long. City officials confirmed that several individuals have shown interest in renting the location.
David Moore, owner of Moore's Halibut House, 2220 N. U.S. Highway 89, decided to close after he was approached about selling the building that housed the restaurant.
"They wanted to get in, and we were wanting to get out," said Moore. "The transition was pretty seamless."
Moore said the cost of halibut over the past few years has been outrageous.
"With the economy, people just can't pay that much for food."
Moore also operates restaurants in Ogden and West Haven.
Harrisville city officials confirmed that someone has filed paperwork to open a restaurant at the old Moore's location and details are expected to be finalized Feb. 1.
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