Najat Al Mashkory of Rochester paid $2.7 million for the buildings at 212 and 216 First Ave. SW on Sept. 1, 2023. The 216 building is known for housing restaurants like Hefe Rojo and the original Newt’s.
“He was passionate about restaurants. Restaurants were his hobby and his career. He was such an incredible man,” said Linda Black of her father Mike Currie, who recently passed away.
In addition to running two local eateries Pi Wood-Fired Pizza and Tilda’s Pizzeria Black is the co-owner (with Matt Mongoven) of Smokin’ Oak Wood-Fired Pizza, a fast-casual restaurant chain that Restaurant News recently called the “fastest growing wood-fired pizza franchise in the U.S.”
Hefe Rojo and the original Newt’s in downtown Rochester will close for good this weekend. The owners say downtown has "never bounced back from COVID" and they will focus more on their other restaurants, which have recovered.