Portland, Maine’s food scene is experiencing another significant shift as Slab Sicilian Street Food has announced its closure, effective this Saturday. This popular Preble Street eatery, known for its generous slabs of Sicilian-style pizza, becomes the latest in a string of recent restaurant closures in the Greater Portland area.
The announcement was made via an Instagram post, leaving many fans of Slab’s distinctive street food disheartened. According to Slab’s General Manager and Chef Christopher Bassett, the decision comes as a result of evolving customer habits since the pandemic. In a phone interview, Bassett explained, “Since the pandemic, people’s habits have definitely changed. Alcohol sales are down, and we were highly focused on that.”
While Slab’s takeout and pizza sales, along with their thriving frozen pizza business, remain strong, the demand for their large-format dining space has diminished. “Our takeout sales and our pizza sales have been good, and our frozen pizza business is thriving, but a large-format space like what we have here, with live entertainment and patios and a large event space, just don’t seem to be what people are doing these days,” Bassett elaborated. He noted that the current dining landscape differs significantly from the atmosphere when Slab first opened a decade ago.
Slab Sicilian Street Food was the creation of master pizza maker Stephen Lanzalotta, who sadly passed away in 2022. Lanzalotta had cultivated a dedicated following for his unique pizza style during his time at Micucci Grocery. Slab quickly gained recognition for its hefty, one-pound rectangular slices of thick-crusted Sicilian pizza, becoming a beloved spot for both locals and visitors seeking authentic and satisfying street food.
In their Instagram post, Slab expressed gratitude for the years of support: “For over a decade, we’ve had the privilege to bring Stephen Lanzalotta’s masterpiece to the masses, and the reception has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re so grateful for the national recognition we’ve received and for our fans far and wide – we cannot thank you enough for your support and kind words through the years.”
Looking ahead, Slab will concentrate its efforts on its growing frozen pizza business. “We’re just focusing on our frozen pizza business at this point. That’s a better direction for our efforts,” Bassett stated. “We want to expand that and go national with it.” Slab’s frozen pizzas are currently available across New England in stores like Hannaford and Market Basket, offering a taste of their Sicilian street food to a wider audience.
Slab’s closure adds to the recent trend of restaurant shutdowns in Greater Portland, with over half a dozen establishments announcing closures in the past month. Factors like increased operating costs and staffing challenges are contributing to a difficult environment for restaurants in the area, making Slab Sicilian Street Food’s departure a notable loss for Portland’s vibrant culinary scene.
