Independent Restaurants See Closures and Openings

A roundup of independent-restaurant moves shows a mix of openings and closures across several markets. Inskip Grill is closing its Powell, Tennessee, location less than two years after expansion — despite being named Knoxville’s best burger this year — while its Fountain City site will remain open and owners say they are “cooking up something big” for the Powell spot. In Paxton, Oakwood & Fire Pizzeria held a ribbon-cutting for wood-fired Neapolitan pies even as Market Street Grill announced it will permanently close Oct. 30 after two years in business. In Hanahan, Johnny’s Garage opened in a converted gas station offering Northeast-style thin-crust pizza, $7 burgers, “dirty sodas” and value-minded fare for industry workers. In London, Don Ciccio closed its Hampstead Lane osteria and pizzeria after six years, and nationally 50-year-old Gina Maria’s Pizza abruptly closed all locations amid wider industry headwinds.