Slab Sicilian Street Food is closing in Portland

PORTLAND (BDN) — Another longtime Portland restaurant will soon close its doors, potentially putting 20 employees out of work.

Christopher Bassett, general manager and executive chef at Slab Sicilian Street Food, confirmed that the Preble Street pizzeria and nightspot would be closing soon, but did not provide a date.

The news comes amid a recent spate of restaurant, bakery and cafe closures in the greater Portland area, with more than a dozen shuttered since August. The recent closures also hit other parts of Maine, including the Central Coast.

Bassett said his restaurant will release an official statement Monday, but cited several factors in Slab's impending departure from the Portland food scene.

Slab, with its large indoor and outdoor dining area, was designed as a meeting place during the day and also as a meeting place in the evening. But people just don't go out at night like they used to, Bassett said. Plus, there's also a lack of lunch crowds due to the recent closure of the nearby Time and Temperature Building.

Bassett said the closure was particularly unfortunate because the building that housed Slab, the former Portland Public Market, was recently purchased by Maine Public and he had hoped to work with the organization in its ambitious plans to create a diverse public space within of the building to work together.

However, Maine Public won't be occupying the building for another two years, and Bassett said the company simply can't hold out for 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 if the restaurant closes, Slab will continue to sell frozen pizza at dozens of retail locations across Maine.

Other Portland restaurants that 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 Road holding. 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 almost 50 years in business.

As of Monday, Boulos Commercial Real Estate had more than 50 listings for vacant restaurant-friendly sites in Portland.