#restaurant-closures

#restaurant-closures

Since he took up his post in President Trump's cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been waging a war on the status quo of American diets, arguing they lack sufficient protein and lean too heavily on processed foods. His latest endeavor in his "war on saturated fats" (his words, really) is perhaps his magnum opus: an upside-down food pyramid formally recommending his vision for healthy eating to the American populace.

Several locations of Kelly's Roast Beef in Florida have closed for good, according to a press release from the private equity firm that became the new owners of the North Shore sandwich shop last year. AAM15 Management, Kelly's new owners, sent out the press release Tuesday, noting that the closed locations - in Naples, Pasadena, and Fort Myers, Florida - were managed by different owners.

Last year was difficult for Los Angeles chefs and restaurateurs. Many entered 2025 hoping for reprieve from previous setbacks and pitfalls: years of inflation, diminished business due to local entertainment-industry strikes and fewer productions, COVID-era back rent coming due, increases in the cost of labor and rent. But 2025 proved to be even more disastrous, compounding existing issues. It started with wildfires across the region, which destroyed thousands of Southern California homes, restaurants, bars and other businesses.

Grant Achatz delivered one of the year's biggest shocks by announcing Alinea had lost a Michelin star before the official Michelin Guide 2025 reveal. The fine dining institution dedicated to molecular gastronomy had held its three-star status every year since the guide first arrived in Chicago in 2011, making the news a major talking point both locally and nationally. 2025 also marked Alinea's 20th anniversary, a milestone celebrated with a series of international pop-up residencies.

Chain restaurants have been having a tough few years, but even by the low standards of the industry, Jack in the Box has had a brutal run that seems unlikely to turn into a comeback in 2026. This year alone Wendy's has closed hundreds of locations, as has Denny's, with others also joining the cutback in smaller numbers. Jack in the Box has been doing the same, but its cratering has no end in sight.

During tumultuous times, we look for comfort. And we often find it in our go-to dishes at our longtime favorite restaurants. But every year we say goodbye to many of those establishments. The ones we pay tribute to here had been landmarks for years, even generations. Some chefs and owners decided to retire or take a break. Others couldn't weather the costs of doing business in this inflationary, post-pandemic era. Or ran up against redevelopment plans.

During tumultuous times, we look for comfort. And we often find it in our go-to dishes at our longtime favorite restaurants. But every year we say goodbye to many of those establishments. The ones we pay tribute to here had been landmarks for years, even generations. Some chefs and owners decided to retire or take a break. Others couldn't weather the costs of doing business in this inflationary, post-pandemic era.

Brookline: In a Facebook post, FuGaKyu Japanese Cuisine announced that it was closing after 25 years in Coolidge Corner. The restaurant once had multiple locations around the city, and shared that the owner decided to cease operations due to personal reasons, effective as of Wednesday, November 5, writing that "this chapter may close, but it marks the dawn of exciting new journeys ahead for our team and family." 1280 Beacon Street

Denny's has quietly closed its Coddingtown Mall location on West Steele Lane in Santa Rosa amid the sale of the 71-year-old chain to private investors. With the future of its remaining North Bay locations uncertain, the Coddingtown location closure leaves Santa Rosa with one operating Denny's on Baker Avenue, while Petaluma's Denny's on Petaluma Boulevard also remains open. The Denny's restaurant at 105 Pomeroy St. in Ukiah closed in 2023 and is slated to become a Habit Burger & Grill.

Cobb's post comes after the official Wendy's account wrote, "Can we send her back?" in response to a Pop Crave post about Perry's return from space. In another post, the company joked, "I kissed the ground and i liked it" while captioning a photo of Perry kissing the ground after landing. It's worth noting that the corporate team at Wendy's later issued an apology for the tweets in an attempt to get back in Perry's good graces. "We always bring a little spice to our socials, but Wendy's has a ton of respect for Katy Perry and her out-of-this-world-talent," the company said.

Flora & Ferment, an Albany bottle shop focusing on ciders, has permanently closed without ceremony. Beverages like Mexican lagers, hibiscus mead and chocolate cherry cider were just some of the goods you'd find here, and the shop often hosted events like drink and draw nights and an annual hot dog fest. Flora & Ferment was located at 1122 Solano Ave. (at Kains Ave.) in Albany.

Your first thought may be grief that you can no longer eat its delicious food. Then, you may be filled with a sense of nostalgia as you remember all the memories you accumulated at the restaurant - celebrating your younger sibling's birthday, going on your first (real) date, or your cousin's wedding dinner. Maybe you think of all the strangers whose lives were, likewise, influenced by this establishment.

A staff member from the Norwood Friendly's confirmed that the Pembroke branch at 146 Church Street has permanently closed. The location is no longer listed on the company's website.

Every year, inspectors arrive unannounced at more than 25,000 restaurants to examine health and safety standards. Most eateries pass inspections, but some fall short of the city's standards, accruing violation points for everything from broken light bulbs to "public health hazards," like vermin and failure to follow food safety protocols. Restaurants hit with non-food-safety violations might get a fine or a lower letter grade, with zero to 13 points warranting an 'A' and violations totaling 28 points or more earning a 'C' (this system is criticized for its efficacy by some gourmands).

For more than half a century, Miamians have been savoring the Chinese cuisine at Christine Lee's. According to Michael Mayo's post on the Facebook Group, Let's Eat, South Florida, "A recorded message on the restaurant's telephone number says that second-generation owner Mary Lee has decided to retire and the restaurant is closed effective immediately." A call to the restaurant confirms the news.

Most of us can agree that while we love dogs, our neighborhood lacks the necessary resources to ensure they peacefully coexist with humans. North Brooklyn Dogs launched a census to identify areas of concern and help advocate for safer, cleaner dog parks. In honor of her new book, we shared an excerpt from Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell's The Joy of Snacking (if you've ever experienced choice paralysis at one of our many great bakeries, it should resonate with you).

On the franchisee side, the blame has been placed squarely on the company having "extreme and unreasonable demands" for its franchisees. They complain of cost overruns when opening a new location, which means they end up spending far more than planned or promised. Potentially worse, the company-approved supplier that they need to use for food and supplies overcharges, according to franchisees.

Founded in 1978 in the town of Hermiston, Oregon, Shari's is a diner-style restaurant that once boasted of being the largest casual dining chain in the Northwest. Also called Shari's Cafe & Pies, it was known for 24-hour service, and its wide variety of different pie recipes. At its peak, Shari's had 95 locations across six states: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Wyoming, and Nebraska.