Mama Della’s, the New York-style pizzeria at 8190 Jefferson Hwy. that last year was featured in an episode of the Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible, has been closed for nearly five weeks now. Owner Barry Kalt says he hopes he can find some help to keep his restaurant alive, but its unclear if the closure will be temporary or permanent.
“I have gotten offers for other business opportunities, but I would really like for investors to help me keep Mama Della’s open,” he says.
Kalt, a New York transplant, says he has no plans to leave the Baton Rouge area and is unsure of his next venture, adding he’s planning to spend some time with his family in the Big Apple in the meantime.
The restaurant opened three years ago in a former Schlotzsky’s location. It received a renovation via the The Restaurant: Impossible episode that aired last March, but it has since struggled to find its footing. Kalt prides himself on using the freshest ingredients available, and ultimately he says the expenses of running the restaurant outpaced customers. He says he simply wasn’t getting enough business and can’t afford to keep Mama Della’s open on his own.
“I put more than 15,000 hours into this place,” he says. “Unfortunately, I can’t run it in a quality matter like I want to right now.”
—Matthew Sigur
