Lewiston Says Goodbye To Luiggi’s After 72 Years Of Memories

It was a sad day for people in the Lewiston, Maine area when Luigi's Pizzeria closed its doors at 63 Sabattus Street, its home for 72 years.

Luiggi's Pizzeria History

According to Luiggi's Pizzeria's website, the business was founded on September 7, 1953, by Deputy Fire Chief Louis C. Talarico and his wife, Annis. Luiggi's held a reputation within its community for some of the best quality food at very affordable prices, as well as great customer service. It was run by the Talarico family for sixty years until August 2012, when the St. Hiliare / Frenette family purchased it.

Luiggi's is Now Closed

The sad news was announced on Luiggi's Facebook page on August 25, 2025, confirming the rumors that the pizzeria was in fact closing, and noting the red tape that they had to deal with bringing the building up to modern-day code:

We want to take a moment to recognize the previous owners, who did a wonderful job keeping this place alive for the last 14 years. They carried the torch with care, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to have tried continuing their legacy.

From day one, we faced an uphill climb—financially, logistically, and emotionally. Bringing a 72-year-old building up to code came with significant, unexpected costs and an overwhelming number of hoops to jump through. We dealt with layers of red tape, compliance challenges, and, unfortunately, very little support from the city when we needed it most. These hurdles drained valuable time and resources that we had hoped to pour into food, service, and community instead.

We’re truly sorry we couldn’t keep the nostalgia going the way many had hoped. It’s been an incredibly tough decision, made with deep thought and even deeper gratitude for those who have supported us along the way. We want to thank every one of you who gave us a chance— who shared a meal, brought a friend, told a story from years past, or simply stopped by to say hi—thank you. You helped keep this place alive longer than it might have otherwise lasted, and for that, we’re truly grateful for allowing you to give us that chance to bring this place back.

The End of an Era