ROCKLAND — Even with Rockland’s robust restaurant scene, the winter months can be a “make or break” time for a new restaurant’s survival.

Comida Restaurant co-owners Tom Sigler and Lisa Laurita-Spanglet announced Jan. 24 through their Facebook page that they were closing their 421 Main St. location.

“With heavy hearts we have to announce that Saturday was Comida's last night open. We have come to the unfortunate place where we simply cannot keep going. A heartfelt thank you to all who supported us over the last three years. It has been a pleasure serving this Midcoast community. Here's to the next adventure!”

As Penobscot Bay Pilot wrote in an article in the fall, Sigler and Laurita-Spanglet were trying to find an innovative solution to running lunch service without stretching their resources and staff too thin and paired up with ‘Wich Please food truck owner and chef Malcolm Bedell to operate during the day hours, while Comida took over the night shift. For a while, that solution was working with the two restaurants combining resources for a weekly “India Night” themed dinner.

An email message from Laurita-Spanglet mentioned the Comida space will now be available with all the equipment and fixtures for sale as a package to a new tenant. It’s unclear what Bedell’s plans are for the rest of the winter. Their customers have been offering condolences on their Facebook page with one customer, Jason McClure, echoing the others’ sentiments: “Total bummer. Though I only visited a couple times, I appreciated the diversity you brought to Rockland. I can only imagine the challenges that come with operating a tapas menu in such a small town. Best of luck.”

Here’s hoping other restaurants and food trucks will replicate their unique model of collaboration elsewhere.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com