After more than 37 years in business, Pepino’s Restaurant in Oakland County announced that it is shutting down.
The family-owned establishment served specialties like rainbow trout and chargrilled lamb chops, along with pastas, seafood and more.
Swiss chef Joe Bernardi and his wife, Helma, opened the first restaurant in Walled Lake in 1984, according to the website. Bernardi, a World War II veteran, had been tasked with cooking for the troops during his time in the army, the website read. He was also known as the executive chef for Henry Ford and Lee Lacocca.
A fire ravaged the restaurant in 2015, but Pepino’s found a new home in Sylvan Lake.
The store had temporarily closed due to COVID-19 earlier this year, according to posts. Recently, Facebook posts mentioned issues with staff shortages.
The restaurant owners were not immediately available for comment.
