WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – It’s truly the end of an era for pizza patrons in Walnut Creek.
People arriving at Skipolini’s Pizza & Pasta, 1535 Giammona Dr., this week found the lights off and a printed letter taped to the window.
Signed by owner-president Kent A. Ipsen, the notice thanks customers for “the last 25 years of patronage,” confirms the sale of the Walnut Creek building, and explains that the family-run company is “pursu[ing] an extraordinary opportunity in Sausalito, California.”
Ipsen calls the move a “temporary departure” and says the team will “vet potential future locations in this great city.” For now, the closest dine-in Skipolini’s are in Concord, Clayton, Antioch and Oakley; DoorDash delivery from the Concord kitchen will continue to serve Walnut Creek.
Why now?
Skipolini’s—founded in 1974 in Clayton and famed for its loaded “Prego Pizza”—entered Walnut Creek in 1999.
For decades, it served as a casual place for locals to stop by with kids, enjoy a small arcade/climbing structure area in an interior patio, and eat traditional pizzas that were tasty and not too expensive.
It’s unclear exactly why the restaurant left WC, but it appears that they’re redirecting resources into the new North Bay branch.
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What to Do
While the goodbye message leaves the door open for a comeback, no lease has been signed elsewhere in the city. In the meantime, fans can:
- Visit other East Bay locations in Concord (downtown Salvio St. store), Clayton (original Mount Diablo St. location), Antioch, or Oakley.
- Enjoying other pizza places in WC (the city is underdoing a pizza renaissance!). We love Slice House especially.
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So sad. Hopefully they will come back. Thank you Thomas for the great articles. I always look forward to reading them.
Skipoli is great but the Concord one tastes pretty much exactly the same so not as convenient if you live in WC but not that far away …