A temporary closure is now permanent.

The Irmo location of Alodia’s Cucina Italiana at 2736 N Lake Dr., which began what was supposed to be a temporary shutdown in July and reopened for one day Oct. 17 before closing again, is now closed for good, the restaurant announced via Facebook. Nov. 25.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of our beloved Irmo location after 15 and a half wonderful years,” co-owners Adam and Betsy Huneau posted. “Since opening our doors, this location has not just been a place of business, but a thriving community hub, filled with cherished memories and friendships.”

The closure comes after controversy at the other location in downtown Lexington, which was fined $2,100 last month following an investigation by the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation after employees at the Lexington location took to social media to say they hadn’t been paid in two weeks back in June.

The Department of Labor detailed in its letter addressing the fine that the restaurant failed to pay wages to 18 employees amounting to more than $4,200 during the month of June.

That wage issue precipitated the departure of the full staff in Lexington, leading to a temporary closure at that location. Due to an issue with the lease that required the Lexington restaurant to reopen, it resumed business July 12, with the Irmo restaurant starting its own temporary closure and sending its staff to Lexington.

The Lexington restaurant was briefly listed for sale in July, but the listing was taken down within about a week.

“We want to express our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who have supported us through the years. Your loyalty and patronage have been the cornerstone of our success, and it has been a privilege to serve you,” the owners posted about the Irmo closure. “While we say goodbye to our Irmo location, our Lexington location remains open and our dedicated team is eager to serve you. We are committed to continuing to provide the exceptional service and experiences you’ve come to expect from us.

“The memories and relationships we’ve built in Irmo will always hold a special place in our hearts. We look forward to welcoming you at our Lexington location and hope you will join us there for more memorable experiences.”

Earlier this month, the Chronicle reported that two LLCs associated with the Alodia’s restaurants had been hit with nearly $73,000 in state tax liens in 2023. As of Nov. 25, those LLCs still faced three active liens totaling nearly $70,000, per the state Department of Revenue's website.

“The SCDOR has been very helpful,” Alodia’s owner Adam Huneau said in a brief statement to the Chronicle when asked about the liens in early-November. “We are truly appreciative of their willingness to help small businesses like ours navigate these difficult times.”