PORTLAND, Maine — Pizza lovers woke up to some sad news Tuesday morning after the popular Portland restaurant Slab Sicilian Street Food announced it would be closing its doors.
Known for its authentic square-shaped, Sicilian-style pizza, the restaurant posted a farewell message on social media late Monday evening.
The restaurant has had years of success, operating at 25 Preble Street.
The baker behind the authentic pizza was Stephen Lanzalotta, who passed away in 2022.
"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," the post stated.
Slab will be closing on Oct. 12, but fear not customers: you can still purchase Slab's "take & bake rising crust pizza" in stores across Maine and New Hampshire, according to the post. For a full list of stores, click here.
As for why such a popular spot is closing, the post noted that the Greater Portland restaurant scene was "moving through a time of significant change."
Of course, fans of the popular pizza spot flooded the comments, calling the news "heartbreaking" and "truly unfortunate."
The outcry from Slab fans up and down the East Coast is not lost on the restaurant.
"Your continued support means the world to us - and who knows…one day we might all enjoy a pint and a pie together at a Slab pizzeria again. Cheers, friends, and thank you again."