Tony Roma’s to serve final meal Aug. 31 as lease expires, tourism declines

After 40 years of serving ribs and family-style meals on Guam, Tony Roma’s will close its doors for good on Aug. 31, WDI International Inc. leadership announced on Aug. 1.

Suguru Ishiguro, vice president of operations, told the Journal there were several reasons for the decision. The restaurant is located at the Royal Orchid Hotel in Tumon.

“Our customers were primarily tourists. Since the pandemic the decline of tourism and economy has greatly affected our operations,” he said, adding the traffic at the Royal Orchid Hotel location is still below those prior to the pandemic.

In addition, the restaurant’s lease agreement is expiring in September 2025.

“We have been looking for the relocation site as well, however considering current slower recovery of tourism, we decided not to relocate at this moment,” Ishiguro said. “Since the pandemic, the decline in tourism and the economy has greatly affected our operations. The current location in the Royal Orchid Hotel also sees far less traffic than before.”

Management said it had explored relocation options but ultimately chose not to move forward given the slow recovery of Guam’s tourism industry.

Tony Roma's in the Royal Orchid Hotel will be closing its doors on Aug. 31. Photo courtesy WDI International Inc.

Tony Roma’s first opened on Guam in October 1985 at Orlene Plaza on Marine Corps Drive under different management. WDI International took over operations in 1995, later moving the restaurant to KC Plaza in Tumon in 1996. It then relocated to the Royal Orchid Hotel in 1999 and again within the hotel to the ground floor in 2008. A second location at the Agana Shopping Center opened in 2004 and closed in March 2020.

There are about 30 employees at Tony Roma’s and they will be encouraged to stay through the final day of operations, Ishiguro said. They will also be able to apply for positions at the company’s two Capricciosa restaurants, which will remain open at Pacific Place and the Agana Shopping Center.

Tony Romas in Royal Orchid Hotel in Tumon will be serving it's final meal Aug. 31. Photo courtesy WDI International Inc.

The company, in its Aug. 1 announcement, thanked the Guam community and its staff for their support and loyalty over the years.

“We would not have been able to operate this many years without their hard work and commitment. We truly appreciate and will remain grateful for all their hard work,” officials said in the statement. mbj