The carryout-only establishment had served fresh pizzas and more for over 40 years

Roadrunner Pizza & Pasta, which for more than 40 years dished out fresh, vibrantly flavored handmade pizzas in Colorado Springs, closed abruptly over the weekend.

In a Saturday evening post on its Facebook page, the family-owned restaurant located at 3113 N. Hancock Ave. in the Venetian Village shopping center announced, “with a heavy heart,” its immediate closure.

The statement thanked the community and the restaurant’s loyal customers for the memories they made and their support through the decades.

“It’s been a wild ride!!! Thanks so much to all our loyal customers over the years!! We so appreciate all of your support!! It’s a sad day, but change is part of life!!” the social media announcement read in part.

Owners did not specify what factors led to the permanent closure in their Saturday statement.

The pizza shop had indicated in other social media posts in August and July that equipment failures, staffing issues and unspecified emergencies were forcing temporary closures during those months.

The carryout-only establishment opened in Colorado Springs in 1983, selling pizzas laden with Roadrunner Pizza’s own custom-made cheese blend, fresh tomato sauces and dough made in-house daily.

It offered customized build-your-own pies as well as specialty pizzas, pastas, salads, desserts and other items.

Roadrunner Pizza’s farewell social media post garnered nearly 300 likes and more than 100 comments as of Monday morning. Many longtime customers and former employees lamented its closure but wished the restaurant owners well.

“That’s so heartbreaking!” wrote Krishna Herod. “I will definitely miss your delicious pizza! Thank you for being a great part of my life! Proud customer since you first opened! Best wishes on your new journey!”

Others, like Julia Hewson-Breakey, suggested Roadrunner’s owners consider creating a cookbook with its recipes “so we can keep the food alive in our homes and hearts!”