Popular Minnesota Pizza Spot Closes; Economic Woes Cited

A well-known and popular Minneapolis-based pizzeria will be closing one of its locations indefinitely.

Minnesota Has Some of the Best Pizza in the Country

Minnesotans know their stuff when it comes to great pizza, and we have a pie scene that’s way bigger and better than most people realize.

From cozy neighborhood spots to trendy, wood-fired joints, there’s no shortage of places serving up incredible slices. Local favorites like Pizzeria Lola, Red Wagon, and Black Sheep keep popping up on national “best pizza” lists.

LOOK: Minnesota Mexican-Pizza Spot Now Named a Favorite in Entire World

But even in a state that loves its pizza, running a shop isn’t always easy. One beloved St. Paul pizzeria has sadly made the difficult decision to close its downtown location after only a year of serving up slices.

Slice Brothers Closes Downtown St. Paul Location

The announcement, shared via Slice Brothers Facebook, hinted at contract negotiation roadblocks and the financial hurdles of maintaining a spot in an area hit hard by changing economics and rising crime rates.

According to the pizzeria’s ownership, the challenges proved too steep to overcome, and despite their best efforts to reconfigure things, the Treasure Island Center location couldn’t make it work.

Interestingly, Slice Brothers has been going through its own unique set of growing pains across the river in Bloomington.

A recent report revealed that the Mall of America is in the process of evicting them over overdue rent, with an alleged $111,000 owed in back payments.

Owner Hoise Thurmond told the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal that they expected more weekday traffic than they’ve actually received at the Mall. Paired with a high rent that’s reportedly ten times what they pay elsewhere, it’s likely made it tough to break even.

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The closing of the St. Paul spot and the mall’s eviction lawsuit add up to a very tough year for Slice Brothers, a company that otherwise has roots and success stories throughout the Twin Cities.

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But with loyal locations in Frogtown, Midtown Global Market, and Northeast Minneapolis, Slice Brothers isn’t going away entirely, they seem to be just making some changes to get their foundation back on solid ground.