LEWISTON — After only a month, Lewiston lost its new 275-seat buffet.

Dave’s American Buffet in the Lewiston Mall has closed. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Dave’s American Buffet in the Lewiston Mall closed Thursday.

“We were not shut down, we closed. And we regret we had to,” owner Dave Paine said Friday, declining further comment.

Paine had opened in January with ambitious plans, turning the former 9,000-square-foot Hibachi Super Buffet into a buffet with a carving station and a mix of American comfort food such as mac and cheese, grilled chicken and country mashed potatoes.

Prior to opening, he had anticipated hiring a mix of 20 to 30 full- and part-time positions.

A city official said Friday that the closure wasn’t related to any city or code violations.

kskelton@sunjournal.com