Just days before its final slice is served, Armand’s Pizzeria & Grille in Rockville is participating in an upcoming auction giving restaurant owners, entrepreneurs, and collectors the opportunity to purchase equipment and memorabilia from the longtime local institution.
According to the auction listing, the sale will include a wide range of commercial kitchen equipment and restaurant supplies from the Rockville restaurant, including ovens, pizza-making equipment, refrigeration units, prep stations, smallwares, bar equipment, furniture, and more. Organizers describe it as an opportunity for restaurateurs, caterers, food truck operators, resellers, and startups looking to acquire equipment from an established operation.
Among the more unique items up for auction is a 1986 Toyota Pickup truck converted into a food service vehicle, featuring a custom white body with “Armand’s Pizza” branding, “Hot Pizza Cold Drinks,” and “Express Delivery” signage. This is a piece of Armand’s history that longtime customers may recognize from the restaurant’s decades of service in Montgomery County.
The auction comes as Armand’s prepares to permanently close its Rockville location following more than five decades in business. Owners Chris Sappe and Jim Hrozencik previously announced that the restaurant’s final day of operation will be June 20, 2026.
Founded in 1975, Armand’s began as a small pizzeria near Tenley Circle in Washington, D.C., after founder Lew Newmyer was inspired by Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. The concept grew into a regional favorite, eventually expanding to more than 25 locations throughout the Washington area, including several in Montgomery County.
While the Rockville location operated under separate family ownership in recent years, it continued serving the recipes and traditions that made Armand’s a local favorite. The restaurant earned renewed recognition by winning Taste MoCo’s 2021 pizza tournament and being named WTOP’s Best Pizza in 2022.
In announcing the closure, the owners thanked customers for their support over the past 51 years, describing Armand’s as more than just a restaurant. “The support you have given us over the years has meant more than words can express,” they wrote. “You have celebrated milestones, shared laughs, and supported us for over 50 years.”
