Starvin Marvin’s Pizzeria & Grille has announced that it will close after 38 years in business, bringing a close to a well-known local brand with deep roots in Gaithersburg and Frederick. The owners shared the news in an emotional social media message titled “The End of Our Era,” saying they are ready to step away from the pizza business after nearly four decades.
The original Starvin Marvin’s opened in Gaithersburg in 1982. The Foundas family purchased it in 1987 and quickly expanded, opening a Wheaton location in 1990. That restaurant operated for a few years before closing, but the Gaithersburg shop remained a neighborhood favorite for decades. In 2009, the family opened a second location in Frederick, which later became their sole restaurant when the Gaithersburg store was sold in 2012 to two longtime employees who wanted to take ownership of the place where they built their careers. A representative from the Gaithersburg store shared that it will remain open.
In their announcement, the owners reflected on the generations of families who dined with them and the many regulars who became like family. They shared memories of team meals inside the restaurant, school and corporate catering events, and the pizza eating contests held during Frederick’s Fourth of July celebrations. Many of the familiar faces behind the counter were relatives, including their children and cousins, as well as friends who grew up alongside them.
Supporting the community has been a hallmark of the business. The owners said they took pride in helping local schools, churches, and little leagues through discounts and donations, especially since their own children were involved in many of those activities over the years.
The Frederick location is expected to be sold in mid December, when a new pizzeria concept will take over the space. The owners plan to share an exact last day of operations when it becomes available. They also noted that the Starvin Marvin name will retire with them for now. They said the legacy of the brand feels tied to their family, but they are preserving the option for the next generation to bring it back one day.
Quoting Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way,” they thanked the Frederick community for its support and encouraged customers to stop by in the coming weeks to enjoy their favorite meals one last time and to say goodbye.
