After more than two decades, Iva Lee’s, the San Clemente food and live music destination that specialized in Southern-influenced fare, will close its doors for good on Saturday, March 30.

“After 21 remarkable years of serving the community, Iva Lee’s has come to the conclusion to close our doors on March 30th,” owners Lisa and Eric Wagoner announced on Friday, March 22. “We have had amazing customers, employees, and vendors throughout our journey and we cannot thank our customers enough for all the support we received and all the memories you shared with us.”

Well wishes and bittersweet sentiments poured in following the announcement. “Thank you, Eric, for not only giving 6 Ways 2 Sunday the opportunity to play some great music in front of some fantastic people and outstanding staff, but it was the first place that I was actually able to follow through on my passion of singing on a stage with a band since I was a kid,” wrote Matthew Mitchell. “I’m so sad to hear this news. Iva Lee’s has given me so many fabulous memories,” noted patron Andrew Swingler.

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The owners went on to quash speculation that an alleged rent increase caused the closure, stating, “The decision to close comes after much contemplation and consideration of various factors. Despite the challenges faced by the restaurant industry, we want to emphasize that the closure is not due to rent increases by our landlords.”

For its final service, Iva Lee’s will host a farewell celebration featuring live music on Sunday, March 31. The owners will host a private dinner the following day for friends and family for one a final hurrah with 50 percent of the evening’s proceeds going to staff. Iva Lee’s stood as one of the few remaining South County venues where people could come for food and dancing while hearing a band hit the floorboards.

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In its stead, neighboring Gibroni’s Detroit Style Pizza, which closed its 215 S. El Camino Real location on Feb. 1, will reopen inside the Iva Lee’s space. “Iva Lee’s sold their business to us,” said Tony Gioutsos, owner of Gibroni’s Detroit Style Pizza. “We assume the lease next week and have a few weeks of renovations.”

Gibroni’s Detroit Style Pizza, which started out as a pop-up in 2020, landed on the Washington Post’s pizzeria feature (“The Best Pizza in America: Region By Region”) in September 2023. The comprehensive article analyzed 7.5 million Yelp reviews of pizzerias to figure out which regional-style restaurants scored the most and highest ratings. Gibroni’s Detroit Style Pizza ranked No. 5 in California. Over the last few years, Detroit-style pizza — noted for its square slices, thick yet pillowy crusts and cheese cooked underneath the sauce and crisped up at the edges – has gained traction as a popular pie.

Gioutsos hopes to open Gibroni’s on April 25.