ICYMI: 3 Maine Pizza Favorites Closed, and 4 Fresh Ones Opened in 2024

How much do you love pizza?

Grabbing the perfect slice from one of your favorite places and savoring each bite can feel like heaven. And then you want to get some more. And more. And more.

In Maine, there are a number of great places to get a pie (and Barstool's Dave Portnoy has even reviewed some of them), but the pizza scene is always evolving.

If you didn't already know, Maine had a bit of a pizza shake-up in 2024 with a few closing their doors for good and some new spots opening up for the first time.

Maine Pizza Places Close in 2024

One of the big pizza announcements of 2024 was The Pizza Joint in Portland and South Portland closing after nearly 50 years.

The longstanding restaurant revealed in a Facebook post that rising supply costs, labor costs, and a downturn in revenue contributed to the end of the establishment.

The outpouring of memories and appreciation for The Pizza Joint was evident in its final days and will surely be a missed spot.

Then there was Slab Sicilian Street Food in Portland, which served up its Sicilian-style pizza since 2014.

This popular spot announced its closing on Facebook while thanking its customers and the staff who "enthusiastically embraced the art & science behind creating the most luscious pizza in all the land.⁣"

Like The Pizza Joint, there was an outpouring of love with many noting the loss of the decade-long pizza place.

One big silver lining: you can purchase Slab's rising crust frozen pizzas at a number of Hannafords and other locations in Maine and New Hampshire.

A third spot, Coals Bayside, which opened in 2019, closed in September 2024.

In an Instagram post, the pizza place reflected on its five years in Portland, thanking the community for its support and the dedicated staff.

If you feel like driving, a Coals is located in Norwalk, Connecticut.

How much do you want some pizza?

Maine Pizza Places Open in 2024

On the flip side, there are some new pizza restaurants you can check out that recently opened in 2024.

In Portland, you've got Off Track Pizza, which is open late for some night slices, and Noble Pizzeria and Barbecue, which has expanded from its smaller Forest Avenue location.

In Scarborough, Blaze Pizza opened its doors in late December 2024.

In Sanford, OTTO opened its doors, marking the 12th version of this establishment in Maine.

READ MORE: Westbrook, Maine, Joint Named Best Hole-in-the-Wall Pizza Place in State

So while it's sad to see some pizza places go, it is exciting that there are new spots to try. And who knows, maybe there will be some new pizza places opening up in 2025 as well.

Whether you’re still missing your old favorite or looking forward to trying something new, one thing is certain: Maine’s love for pizza isn’t going anywhere.

Where's your favorite pizza place?