Historic Roman Butcher Shop Annibale Closes After 138 Years After more than a century of continuous operation, Antica Macelleria Annibale, one of Rome’s most iconic butcher shops, has closed its doors. On Monday, 5 January 2026, the historic meat shop at Via di Ripetta 236–237, near Piazza del Popolo, ceased business, ending 138 years of tradition in the heart of the capital. A Landmark of Roman Gastronomy For generations, Annibale was more than just a place to buy meat — it was a fixture of daily life for Romans and visitors alike. Inside its elegant, old-world interior, customers found high-quality cuts and rare selections that combined traditional Italian butchery with real flair. The shop drew loyal regulars from across the city — from local families to well-known figures in cinema, television, music and the arts. But the closure was not due to lack of demand or a fading reputation. Rather, it stemmed from deep frustration and exhaustion over long-running issues around the lease and the renewal of the contract for the premises. Annibale’s owner, Annibale Mastroddi, now 80 years old and the face of the butcher shop for decades, said he was “tired of waiting for the contract renewal”. Struggles Behind the Scenes Unlike many modern retailers, Annibale did not own the building it occupied. The property, originally controlled by an aristocratic family, passed through different hands over the decades, eventually being administered by church-related bodies and later regional institutions. According to Gambero Rosso, Mastroddi and his legal team had been waiting for a formal contract renewal and clarification of space rights for over twenty years. With negotiations repeatedly stalled and no long-term certainty, the decision to close the shop became inevitable. A Cultural Loss for Rome The significance of Annibale’s shutdown goes beyond the closure of a single shop. In a city where small, artisanal food businesses are increasingly under pressure from rising rents and bureaucratic complexity, the loss of a historic butcher shop like Annibale is emblematic of a broader trend. Long-time patrons describe the butcher not just as a place to buy meat, but as a destination — a site of memories, stories and human connection that transcended commerce. As Rome continues to change, the disappearance of Annibale marks the end of a small but meaningful chapter in the city’s living food culture. Source: Gambero Rosso