Beloved Vallejo Waterfront Spot Zio Fraedo’s Shuts Its Doors After 20‑Year Run Over Rent Fight

After more than twenty years of serving up plates of spaghetti carbonara, fresh catch du jour and a view of the Bay, Zio Fraedo’s is pulling the plug. The family‑run eatery on Vallejo’s waterfront will shut its doors this weekend, a decision forced by a rent dispute with the city that owns the property.

Owners Tony and Sherry LoForte told reporters that the city’s latest lease proposal would have pushed monthly rent so high that the business simply could not stay afloat. “After extensive discussions we were unable to come to an agreement with our landlord,” they said in a brief Instagram statement, adding that the new figure would “far exceed our ability to sustain the restaurant.”

The LoFortes have watched the Bay Area dining scene tighten over the past few years – tariffs, soaring food costs and the lingering impact of the pandemic have all taken their toll. Even before the rent hike, the Vallejo location struggled to regain its pre‑COVID lunch crowd, trimming midday service and relying heavily on private parties and banquets to keep the lights on.

City spokesperson Robert Briseño defended the increase, noting that municipal officials must balance the needs of taxpayers with those of tenants. “Our properties need to serve the community while meeting our financial obligations,” he told SFGATE.

While the news marks the end of an era for the Vallejo outpost, the original Zio Fraedo’s in Pleasant Hill will stay open, offering a small consolation to loyal patrons. About twenty employees from the Vallejo kitchen have been offered positions at the Pleasant Hill venue, though many still face uncertainty about their next steps.

On October 25 the restaurant’s lights will go out for the last time, leaving behind a legacy of late‑night pasta, waterfront breezes and memories that will linger long after the chairs are stacked.