Corso Italian has abandoned plans to reopen after closing its doors last month due to flooding.
The Italian restaurant, which closed indefinitely on Aug. 2 following water damage to its dining room and basement, announced in an email to customers yesterday (Thursday) that it will not be reopening.
“I will always be incredibly proud of what we created there, and even more proud of the people who created it with me,” owner Jill Erber wrote. “Thank you for being part of it — and for being part of our 15 years in Shirlington.”
The flooding came amid construction work in The Village at Shirlington to support outdoor renovations, which Erber believes contributed to the damage. The restaurant had originally hoped to reopen and successfully raised over $22,000 to support its employees.
However, Erber said, an update on the renovation timeline scrapped those plans.
“We received new information from our landlord indicating that the flood remediation and repairs could not be completed on a schedule that would allow Corso to reopen in a timely fashion,” she wrote. “Given that new reality, we and the landlord agreed to end the lease.”
Some of Corso Italian’s staff members had been employed with the restaurant since it first opened as Cheesetique in 2011. The restaurant reinvented itself as an Italian-inspired restaurant and market in 2023 under the same ownership.
“We have talented cooks, servers, bartenders, hosts, food runners, dishwashers, and managers who need jobs,” Erber wrote. “If you own or manage a restaurant, or know someone who does, please reach out to me. I would be very happy to make introductions and enthusiastically recommend members of our team.”
Cheesetique Del Rey, also owned by Erber, is still open and will accept Corso Italian gift cards. Corso will also be refunding deposits for scheduled private events.
“Thank you for supporting Corso — and Cheesetique Shirlington before it. For 15 years, we have had the privilege of being part of the Shirlington community,” Erber wrote. “Thank you for the dinners, brunches, glasses of wine, celebrations, date nights, and all the other moments you chose to spend with us.”
