La Stazione closes shy of five months in operation in downtown Abilene

Greg Jaklewicz, Abilene Reporter-News
·2 min read

The restaurant that opened in late September at the former T&P Warehouse in downtown Abilene is closed.

La Stazione ("The Station" in Italian) opened to good customer reviews, owner and executive chef Leray Scifres told the Reporter-News after a soft opening.

But now there is a "restaurant for lease" sign posted at the entrance at 901 North First St.

A sign posted at La Stazione Italian restaurant in downtown Abilene announces it is up for lease. The restaurant was open short of five months.
A sign posted at La Stazione Italian restaurant in downtown Abilene announces it is up for lease. The restaurant was open short of five months.

Callers to the restaurant are directed by voicemail to the lastazioneabilene.com website, where there is no indication that the restaurant is closed.

The building formerly was used by Texas State Technical College for its culinary program, which ceased to be offered. Scifres was in the first graduating class in 2011.

It went up for sale and was purchased by developer Charlie Wolfe.

More:La Stazioné fine Italian restaurant opens in downtown Abilene at T&P Freight Warehouse

That in itself was controversial because Wolfe bid against the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, which sought to move from its offices on Cypress Street. Wolfe offered a higher price, $950,000, and the promise to open restaurant.

By a 5-2 vote, the Abilene City Council approved the sale to Wolfe in August 2020, The chamber relocated to the First Financial building on Pine Street.

More:Abilene City Council vote 5-2 to sell T&P Freight Warehouse to developer Charlie Wolfe

Wolfe, who had suggested a 24-hour diner at the location, was given a deadline to open a business. But then COVID-19 continued, a finding someone wanting to start a venture there became a challenge.

A year ago this month, a tenant still was sought.

More:T&P Freight Warehouse still looking for tenants, but finding use as venue, developer says

Enter Scifres, who announced in March that he wanted to open a high-end Italian restaurant in the building constructed in 1906. It was opened in the fall, serving customers Wednesdays-Sundays.

Leray Scrifes at the T&P Warehouse in March 2022. It was then he announced plans to open an Italian restaurant at the location.
Leray Scrifes at the T&P Warehouse in March 2022. It was then he announced plans to open an Italian restaurant at the location.

Scifres owned Flour Shop Bakery and Gatehouse Café at Abilene Regional Airport at the time he owned La Stanzione.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: La Stazione closes shy of five months in operation in downtown Abilene