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Local Italian restaurant San Vito Ristorante Italiano closed the doors to its Burke location yesterday. The closure comes amid a financial dispute between restaurant owner John Sayre and the shopping center.
“The restaurant was given a date by the court to pay their bills. After that date passed it became property of the courts,” said Barry Cohen, a server at the restaurant for three years who learned of the issues from a person with knowledge of the legal situation.
According to the Fairfax General District Court website, a hearing for March 1, 2013, has been set. Listed as an unlawful detainer case, the restaurant is being sued by Kings Park Shopping Center LLC.
The restaurant received offers from interested buyers, but “a deal was never reached,” stated Cohen.
Located in the Kings Park shopping center, San Vito, opened in August of 2005. The restaurant also has a Centreville location under the same name. An employee at the Centreville restaurant would not comment on the details of the closing of the Burke location, but did state that Centreville would remain open.
