"After 24 years of slinging pies to college kids and devoted locals, Denton pizza favorite J&J’s Pizza will permanently close its doors later this summer. The restaurant announced its impending closure in a Facebook post on Wednesday, noting that J&J’s final day of service will come in August. “We will miss serving this beautiful and supportive community so, so much,” the statement reads in part. In the post J&J’s owners say that their landlord increased the rent on the pizzeria’s space at 118 West Oak Street that they “just can’t pay.” Since opening 24 years ago, J&J’s was a staple for college kids attending the University of North Texas, and for more than a decade the restaurant’s “old dirty basement” played host to free underground rock shows from local musicians. J&J’s discontinued its basement shows in 2016, after the pizzeria lost access to the space following “heated” negotiations with the building’s owner. In the meantime, J&J’s fans still have about six weeks to score their final meat lovers’ pies and Italian subs. The restaurant is set to officially close its doors on August 10." - Amy McCarthy
