Rising Costs Force Salinas Restaurant to Close After 2 Years

Mangia Eat on Main, a family-owned eatery, is shutting down due to inflation and soaring food prices.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:10am

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A high-end studio still life photograph featuring an elegant arrangement of premium restaurant tableware items like plates, silverware, and a wine glass, all placed on a clean, monochromatic background and using dramatic lighting to convey the abstract challenges facing the restaurant industry.As rising costs force a beloved Salinas restaurant to close, the image reflects the bittersweet end of a small business's journey.Salinas Today

Mangia Eat on Main, a family-owned restaurant in downtown Salinas, California, is closing its doors after facing overwhelming financial challenges over the past year. The restaurant, which opened in November 2021, had initially seen success, but owner Anna Altomare says the struggles of the small business grew too great to overcome, citing factors like the economy, rising food prices, labor costs, and utilities.

Why it matters

The closure of Mangia Eat on Main highlights the broader economic pressures facing small businesses in downtown Salinas and the challenges of operating a restaurant in the current inflationary environment. It raises concerns about the long-term viability of other local eateries in the area.

The details

Altomare said the decision to close Mangia Eat on Main was influenced by a combination of factors, including the economy, the high cost of food, labor, and utilities. Over the past year, the struggles for the small family business became overwhelming, despite initially seeing success when they first opened in 2021. Altomare expressed sadness about having to shut down, saying the restaurant was like a second home where they tried to create a sense of community and make memories for families.

  • Mangia Eat on Main opened in November 2021.
  • The restaurant will serve its final meal on Friday, April 10, 2026.

The players

Mangia Eat on Main

A family-owned restaurant that opened in downtown Salinas, California in November 2021.

Anna Altomare

The owner of Mangia Eat on Main, who said the decision to close the restaurant was influenced by factors like the economy, rising food prices, labor costs, and utilities.

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What’s next

The city, business association, and chamber of commerce have been contacted for comment on the concerns raised by the restaurant owners, but their responses are still pending.

The takeaway

The closure of Mangia Eat on Main underscores the broader economic pressures facing small businesses in downtown Salinas, as rising costs and a challenging economic environment make it increasingly difficult for local restaurants and shops to survive. This story highlights the need for community support and potential policy interventions to help sustain the vitality of the city's downtown district.