Consider this one new-to-us: After relative silence over the fate of its Northwest Portland cafe, another restaurant has claimed the space: Jojo will move in sometime this spring or summer. Really sad. This vegan restaurant known for its beach-y decor and shark shots has closed its North Mississippi location. The Park family, who owned this place for many years, made it through a fire but the pandemic ended the run of this beloved spot for Korean food. I ate my first dim sum at Wongs King when I was 15, and quickly fell in love with shu mai and har gow. I also miss Kachinka. For now, there are still Alma products available on the companys website. Its Instagram and Facebook pages have disappeared, and a for lease sign now hangs in its window. But the closing that affected me the most will hopefully be a temporary one, and that is Alley Mezza. Owners Sarah Schafer and Anna Caporael shut the doors to their Italian market and restaurant Cooperativa on September 3. Weve been holding on for dear life since the world turned upside down, but unfortunately, we just cant hold on any longer, a closing announcement on the restaurants Instagram reads. Read more about the closure here. It is with a sad heart that we will be permanently closing the Lucky Lab on Killingsworth, the closing announcement reads. Personally, we need a break. Alma, the 14-year-old chocolate and candy company known for its bonbons and salted caramel sauce, ceased operations in July. Opening a coffee shop in the pandemic was honestly super risky and we knew it was going to be a challenge, the post reads. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. For people who havent worked in restaurants, I think it must be impossible to imagine the relentless toll of food service. The Pix-O-Matic, the shops 24-hour vending machines, will remain open onsite. The pandemic was a difficult time for all of us, and for Alter Ego it came at a crucial time where we had just invested in the expansion of our business, Hubatch told New School Beer. A new, as yet announced tenant is already lined up for the space. Small spaces like Williams are particularly susceptible to Covid occupancy limitations and cannot easily break even, Hopworks owner Christian Ettinger told New School Beer. A cozy, vintage cafe with duck eggs Benedict and savory waffles, Trinket decided against takeout or delivery back in March, and wont reopen its doors again. I think we more than succeeded, even as we retreat. 2020 has inflicted a series of gut-wrenching closures on L.A., so it's hard to know where to begin. Chefs Jessie Aron and Colin McArthur, who previously owned the food cart Carte Blanche, attributed the closure to the financial and emotional strain of running a restaurant right now. While the restaurant intended to close after weekend service, a COVID-19 exposure forced Acadia to close early. Buckman brewery West Coast Grocery Co. will close this summer, according to owner Charlie Hyde IV. Bob Barnes, . Due to many financial strains placed on the business we wont be able to reopen our doors after the dust settles, the post reads. Callahan was stabbed in November, which necessitated the temporary closure of the restaurant he set up a GoFundMe at the time to help cover employees pay and his medical bills. Chef and owner Maya Lovelace has closed the three-year-old Southern restaurant specializing in fried chicken and angel biscuits to transition the space into Hissyfit, a restaurant which will have roots in Southern cuisine, but with less adherence to tradition. The restaurant announced its closure in early June; its last day was June 26. A restaurant self-described as the first Chinese restaurant on 82nd, Canton Grill closed in August after more than 75 years open. Those experiences helped me fall in love with this field and this city; they pulled me back here after I moved across the country. The Glisan location has also closed, taken over by the new cocktail bar Tropicale. Please enter a valid email and try again. newsletter, Where to Eat and Drink on the Oregon Coast, Sample fresh seafood and creative comfort food along 363 miles of coastline, James Beard Award Winner Naomi Pomeroy Will Help Quaintrelle Level Up, In the wake of chef Ryley Eckersleys departure, Quaintrelle will host the legendary Portland chef, who will consult with the team through the summer, A Guide to Portlands Most Outstanding Food Carts, Where to catch the citys tastiest meals on wheels, from hand-pulled noodles to chicken adobo, Sign up for the These past few years have been rough on everyone and we know life has not been easy on you either (and those challenges just kept coming). This North Interstate beer bar closed at the end of October. 1207 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144 (206) 568-6446 Visit Website. Though wildly different, Omas Hideaway kind of fills that void, though. -Krista Garcia, Eater Portland contributor, Biba Chamoru Kitchen. Every meal there surpassed the last smart, complex, unfussy food that I loved introducing to friends who hadnt yet eaten there.-Jonathan Kauffman, Portland-based food writer and author of A Place Is a Gift newsletter, I was heartbroken when Mitate announced their food cart closure at Core PDX. In an announcement post, Zukin says the restaurant could not survive the economic impact of COVID-19: The restaurant business has been hit especially hard by this pandemic, as everyone knows, he writes. During the first few months of opening we started making our own chai. A few Tea Bar drinks may end up landing on the menu at Drink Mamey, however. But Ristretto announced that it would fold altogether in December 2020, roasting its last batch December 15. We want to step back and help other ramen shops make the best ramen possible.. The simple reality is that we could not get the traffic we needed to make it work financially, an Instagram closing announcement reads. As the world has shifted and changed, so have we - both in business and personally.. A Tabor neighborhood standby for cheese boards, snacks, and pantry staples, Cheese Bar announced that it would close in January 2021. It opened at such an unfortunate time and never got a chance to show off what it could really do. Alter Ego shares the space with Helioterra, and has been operating its tasting room out of the facility since June 2019. The Ranger Station first opened in 2014, serving pub fare and plenty of local beer; over time, the restaurant became known for its live music. To attribute the closure of longstanding coffee roaster and cafe chain Ristretto to the COVID-19 pandemic would be overly simplistic: At least two of the brands cafes had closed in 2019, and the team hasnt served their own coffee in a cafe for at least six months. A beloved dive bar and pizzeria in the Alphabet District for more than 30 years, Crackerjacks closed its doors permanently on September 27. In case you missed it, Vitaly Paley is down to a single restaurant. 2020's Saddest Restaurant Closures . I know many would have wanted to support No Bones through takeout and delivery too. -Waz Wu, Eater Portland contributor, While Pok Pok was pretty sad, Bar King may have been the toughest pill to swallow a spot with so much thought, talent and drive behind it never really got a chance to get off the ground and get going. -Nick Woo, Eater Portland contributor, Seeing Pok Pok close was definitely shocking to me, as Im sure it was to other Portlanders. -Ron Scott, Eater Portland contributor, Oui at Southeast Wine Collective was a huge bummer. As 2020 grinds on, there is no way for us to re-open, the closing announcement reads. The Oregon Weedery moved into the former Waiting Room in September, and Google is reporting the Waiting Room is permanently closed. The small chain of Iraqi restaurants has decided to close half of its restaurants, focusing exclusively on its first two locations: Alberta and downtown. The bar hinted at potentially reopening in a new location down the line via Instagram. A new tenant, the Bend-based Bangers and Brews, will take over the former Open Tandoor space. Well, we at least know that Tasty n Alder wont reopen in its current location: Han Oak owners Peter Cho and Sun Young Park are taking over the space to open Toki in November. Old Town pizzeria and pub Captain Ankenys closed on September 30, Willamette Week reports. Its unclear when this North Tabor taqueria closed, but the front of the restaurant is boarded up and its phone number has been disconnected. The under-the-Hawthorne Bridge ramen shop Menya Hokusei, which made its noodles with Oregon wheat and barley, has closed. This Mexican restaurant from internet personality Nick Zukin closed on July 3 in Old Town. It has since expanded to open a second Portland location and locations in Seattle and California. We look forward to the future and being of service to all of you once again, the post reads. We have reached a point where we can no longer be certain of our ability to pay our staff and vendors, a closing announcement reads. Trying to keep a restaurant open this year wasn't easy. Shady Pines is sad, as well its a great concept that never fully came to fruition, and the closure of that pod left several carts in a tough spot. Tonari opened in the midst of the pandemic after a pricy remodel, and its tongue-katsu sandwiches and saba caesar salad couldnt keep the space afloat. The restaurant, known for its inventive brunch and date night vibes, opened in 2012, named for the father of co-owner Lily Tollefsen. The poke restaurant from the Bamboo Sushi brand has closed permanently without announcement, now that Micah Camdens next venture a French dip restaurant has announced its impending opening in that space. When chefs Jos Chesa and Cristina Bez moved away, many (rightly) mourned Ataula, but the quieter evaporation of 180 Xurros was sadder for me since I frequented that place. I would always take out-of-towners there for all of the fun small plates and infused vodkas. One closure that particularly hit our heartstrings was Cooperativa. When were strong again well let you know where we are and we will look forward to seeing you there!, This Killingsworth juice shop closed in mid-September following a planned one-month hiatus, which turned into a four-month one. We asked Portland food writers and personalities for the closures that hurt them the most this year; these are the spots that hurt us the most. We have been so honored to provide a little space to gather for your large and small events, watching the kids grow taller and taller, the Instagram post announcing the closure reads. Considering its brief tenure in Portland, I have so many fond memories of eating Holy Trinity beef ribs, those green chile grits, that *banana pudding. Read this story for a full rundown of the closure. The webstore will remain open for some time, Sprints said in his latest announcement video. The decision doesnt seem to be related to the pandemic; the post says the closure was due to internal issues. Co-owner Andy Kou says he should be working on something else soon, and said those interested in his next move should follow his personal Instagram account, @dobiedaddy. I feel like Ive just been making other bigger corporations richer.. However, it looks like Random Order will not reopen at its Alberta Street location, if at all: Bagel shop Ben & Esthers will open a new location in the former Random Order space, according to an Instagram post. This has proven to not be a temporary situation and it is not a situation we can manage. Now, what was the saddest restaurant closing of 2021? The reality is that weve been struggling since the pandemic began, a statement from the restaurant reads. It seems very likely that the longstanding Jazz bar and lounge, Hobos, has closed for good. It appears that the COVID-19 pandemic and mounting conflicts between the owner of the bar and its staff are the impetus for the bars shuttering. Something went wrong. I want to try to avoid mentioning some of the real gut-punch closures previously mentioned here, so Ill say that I feel a specific sadness for the now-closed restaurants that meant so much to me as a teenager and as a young professional. Google is now indicating the restaurant has officially closed. Homegrown Smoker developed a loyal following for its vegan take on classic Southern dishes and soul food, but owner, Jeff Ridabock, opted to retire after years of service. We love ya, we just cant keep doing this, the September Instagram post reads. By Eater Staff December 20, 2021 Pearl Cocktail Bar Botanist Has Closed for Good. This Rose City Park cafe closed in early March, as first reported by Bridgetown Bites. The team should be reopening a new business within the same space in the future, according to the Instagram post. Another Old Town bar owned by Eric Bowler, Maxwell closed soon after Fortune. Scott Roeben, . It is with sadden [sic] that we say that run has come to its end. Once known as Townshends, Brew Dr. has focused more seriously on kombucha in recent years, and the additional strain of the pandemic made the tea shops too hard to keep open. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. 2004-2021, owner Vito DiLullo writes in the closing post. We reach out to Portland food writers and influencers for their perspectives on major trends . Here they recall some of the saddest Montreal restaurant closures of the year. Still, six losses hurt more than others: Bco Mercat, Bon . The women-owned distillery closed its Lake Oswego tasting room on February 25. Originally opened in 1991 on Northwest 23rd Avenue, the deli is one of a few Jewish restaurants in the city and serves bagels, cured fish, and sandwiches. The restaurant opened on New Years Eve in 2018, and in an Instagram closing announcement, the team alluded to returning to the industry after a much-needed break.