North Geelong restaurant Cafizza to close in February after nine years

The owners of a North Geelong pizza restaurant have decided to close their doors after almost a decade.

Jimmy Onturk, Yalcin Aydin and Kezi Aydin. Picture: Alan Barber

A North Geelong restaurant will close its door next month after almost a decade in business.

Cafizza on Separation St announced it will serve its last wood-fired pizzas on February 16.

Owners Kezi and Yalcin Aydin, who both have more than 30 years of hospitality experience, started the business in 2015 and said was a “difficult decision” to close.

“It’s very much bittersweet,” Mrs Aydin said.

The pair both worked at Pizzaland Bistro — Mr Aydin spent about 20 years manning the wood-fired oven.

“My husband is very good at what he does and I said to him, ‘let’s go out on our own and do something for ourselves’,” Mrs Aydin said.

They then collaborated with their business partner Jimmy Onturk, who used to own the building, to create Cafizza.

“Pizzaland was a big inspiration for us,” Mrs Aydin said.

“They taught us everything we know.

“Some of the dishes were inspired by my mum’s recipes.”

The pair, who are both Turkish and have three children and five grandchildren, are ready for the next chapter in their lives.

Cafizza in North Geelong is closing in February. Picture: Alan Barber

“We have grandkids coming out left, right and centre and we haven’t travelled so I said to my husband we need to do something for ourselves because we’re getting older,” she said.

“We’ve had a great nine years.”

Mrs Aydin said they have been “overwhelmed” by the response from their customers to the news of the closure.

“We’ve had lots of loyal, regular customers and they’ve all been coming in because we’ve announced we’re closing,” she said.

“I’ll miss them a lot.

“We’ve had fantastic staff, both past and present.

“We want to thank our customers and everyone that has been supporting us over the years.”

Originally published as North Geelong restaurant Cafizza to close in February after nine years