Pizzeria Trasimeno has closed due to staffing woes
Pizzeria Trasimeno, which opened in June 2020 inside Crosstown Concourse, closed its doors on Saturday, Oct. 1. “It wasn’t not having the customers,” said owner Sabine Langer. “It was not having the staff.” (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian file)
Pizzeria Trasimeno has closed, a little more than two years after it opened in Crosstown Concourse. But it wasn’t for lack of customers.
Sabine Langer, who owned Trasimeno and also owns Global Café in the Concourse, said she had a nice evening business.
“But running two restaurants in the current climate is too hard,” she said. “It’s the labor. I don’t know when that is going to turn around.”
Her reckoning came when she recently had to travel and found herself worrying about how the restaurant would manage.
“My dad is dying and I had to go to Switzerland for three weeks,” she said. “It gave me time to reflect on what is important.
“My daughter started college in Berlin; my son is in high school; my partner travels for work and likes for me to come, so I realized it was time to reassess my priorities.”
The large space at the east end of Crosstown Concourse opened as Elemento Neapolitan Pizza in October 2018 and closed in February 2020. Langer took over the space in June 2020, during COVID restrictions, and operated it first as a takeout-only pizzeria. Later, she opened the patio and eventually completely opened the restaurant.
“It wasn’t not having the customers,” she said. “It was not having the staff.”
Global Café will remain open, which started as a passion project for Langer, who doesn’t consider herself a restaurateur and never set out to own one, much less two, eateries.
“There, if we ever have labor issues, I can step in and help out,” she said. “Well, I can’t cook — still can’t cook — but I can work in the front, do what I need to do. It’s harder to do that with two places, even if they’re right by each other.”
Saturday, Oct. 1, was Pizzeria Trasimeno’s last day, but there’s more ahead for the space, owner Sabine Langer said. “It’s just beautiful in there.” (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian file)
Saturday, Oct. 1, was Trasimeno’s last day, but there’s more ahead for the space, Langer said.
“It’s just beautiful in there. We were hosting private parties and events, bridal showers, and revenue was really growing. There’s another restaurant thinking about coming in, and I might even partner with someone.
“But I can’t be there for the day-to-day. When your parents are dying, it really puts your own mortality in the balance and I know I’m doing the right thing.”
Topics
Pizzeria Trasimeno Sabine Langer Crosstown Concourse Subscriber OnlyAre you enjoying your subscription?
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Jennifer Biggs
Jennifer Biggs is a native Memphian and veteran food writer and journalist who covers all things food, dining and spirits related for The Daily Memphian.
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