Valrico Restaurant Closing After 45 Years

The pandemic has hit the restaurant industry hard and seafood lovers in Valrico will have to say goodbye to Willie's: The Place for Seafood soon, according to a message posted to their website and Facebook page. Owners say the difficult to close is not an easy one. They say they raised menu prices to try to cover the costs of repairs their building needed and higher food prices. But that apparently didn't help them make up for losses.

One bit of good news if you're a fan of Willie's. They're exploring the idea of doing a food truck or something similar to carry on the tradition. But as of now they say December 23 will be their last day in business.

Reviewers on sites like Yelp seem love Willie's. They have a 4 out of 5 star rating on the site. Jennifer from Maryland says it's not a fancy place, but enjoyed the food. Greg from Texas said the vibe brought him back to the 60s and 70s. Bill from Tampa specifically loved the fried catfish and coleslaw.

They're so simple to make in a hurry, but these Tampa area spots take the sandwich to the next level, creating a masterpiece between those slices of bread.