Pasta + Sauce to close Sept. 20 after nine years in Cape Girardeau

KBSI FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Pasta + Sauce will close its doors for the final time on Sept. 20, owner, Gabriel Ruggieri announced, marking the end of another chapter in his long career in the Cape Girardeau dining scene.

Over the past nine years, he has hired more than 500 employees and created opportunities that shaped both his career and the local food scene. He also operated Gabriel’s Imports in St. Louis conducted more than 400 cooking classes and adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic by launching a food truck, participating in farmers markets, and opening a pizza stand at Southeast Missouri State University.

While closing Pasta + Sauce, he emphasizes his focus will now be on expanding Speck and pursuing new projects.

“My heart and soul desired to open my first dream restaurant, and I successfully established five restaurants in this town,” Ruggieri said. “This is not a failure; it is another page in the book. I am grateful for the support of Cape Girardeau and excited to turn my energy toward the future.”

Ruggieri added he looks forward to seeing familiar faces at Speck and elsewhere in the community, while keeping his passion for hospitality alive.