SOUTH PORTLAND — The brick oven will be fired up for the last time Sunday at Ricetta’s pizzeria on Western Avenue.

The company announced Wednesday night that it is closing the South Portland restaurant, where it was established in 1989. A second restaurant, opened on Route 1 in Falmouth in 2000, will remain open.

In a newsletter to customers, Ricetta’s said rising fuel and food costs, coupled with shrinking revenue, have made it difficult to operate two establishments.

“While we have enjoyed great success over the first 19 years of operation, the past three have been challenging to say the least,” the company said.

Ricetta’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the spring of 2009, and emerged with a reorganization that included closing a year-old restaurant in Kennebunk.

In its announcement this week, the company said some jobs would be moved from South Portland to Falmouth, but it did not indicate how many people may lose their jobs.

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It also said customer rewards vouchers and gift cards from South Portland will be honored in Falmouth.

“We ask for our customer reward member patience as we work to consolidate our S. Portland records with the Falmouth location’s database,” the company said.

The company on April 1 also plans to begin offering lunch and dinner delivery from the Falmouth to homes and businesses in Falmouth, Cumberland, Portland, Westbrook, South Portland and limited parts of Gorham and Scarborough.

The South Portland restaurant will close at 9 p.m. on Sunday, March 27.

Randy Billings can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or rbillings@theforecaster.net


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