Longtime southern Maine pizza spot to close

PORTLAND, Maine — Another longtime city restaurant will soon close its doors, potentially leaving 20 workers out of a job.

Christopher Bassett, general manager and chef at Slab Sicilian Street Food, confirmed the Preble Street pizzeria and night spot would be closing soon, though he did not specify a date.

The news comes amid a recent rash of Greater Portland restaurant, bakery and coffee shop closings which has seen upwards of a dozen shuttered since August. Recent closures have hit other parts of Maine as well, including the midcoast .

Bassett said his restaurant would release an official statement on Monday but cited several factors for Slab's imminent departure from Portland's food scene.

Slab, with its large interior and exterior sit-down dining space, was designed to be a daytime meeting place as well as a happening night spot. But people just aren't going out at night like they used to, Bassett said. Plus, with the recent closure of the nearby Time and Temperature Building, the lunch crowds are also lacking.

Bassett said the closure is particularly unfortunate because the building housing Slab, the former Portland Public Market, was recently purchased by Maine Public and he'd hoped to collaborate with the organization on its ambitious plans to create a diverse, public space inside the building.

Maine Public won't occupy the building for at least another two years, though, and, Bassett said, the business just can't hold on that long.

Longtime Miccuci Grocery Co. pizza master Steven Lanzalotta opened Slab in 2014. Lanzalotta died in 2022 after a long battle with cancer. Bassett said even though the restaurant is closing, Slab will continue to sell frozen pizza at dozens of retail locations throughout Maine.

Other Portland eateries which have announced closures include Coals Pizza in Bayside, Thistle & Grouse on Cotton Street, Sisters Gourmet Deli in Monument Square, Golden Lotus on Congress Street, Ohno Cafe in the West End, Gross Bakery on Middle Street and Coffee By Design's India Street location. The local coffee chain also closed a Congress Street location in 2023.

Outside the city proper, the Muddy Rudder in Yarmouth closed its doors last week after nearly 50 years in business.