A Working Checklist of San Francisco and Bay Space Restaurant Closings
This is a curated list of the Bay Area’s most notable and permanent restaurant and bar closures, with new updates published once a week. See a closing we missed? Then drop us a line.
October 12
OUTER SUNSET — As Eater SF reported, Hotline, the Outer Sunset restaurant serving junghwa food, is set to close on October 16. The restaurant is going out in style, however: Owners Eddo Kim and Clara Lee, also behind Inner Sunset Korean superette Queens, will serve a chef’s tasting menu for Hotline’s closing weekend, rather than an la carte menu, as the restaurant typically does.
NOB HILL — The Huntington Hotel is facing foreclosure, the Mercury News reports, and for now the historic hotel, the spa, and Big 4 Restaurant are all “closed until further notice,” according to its website. The hotel is currently in default on its loan — hence, the foreclosure possibility — and owes $61.1 million according to the Merc, so it seems likely the closure may turn permanent.
MISSION — The long-standing Double Play Bar and Grill was destroyed late September in a fire that was a “total loss” for the first floor where Double Play was housed, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The 113-year-old bar was home to plenty of Seals and Giants memorabilia, and some have gone so far as to suggest the Giants should help bring the bar back.
TENDERLOIN — Despite statements saying the San Francisco outpost of Mikkeller Bar wasn’t closing, following news that the Copenhagen-based company was shutting down its San Diego brewery in August, the bar is now done-done, according to the San Francisco Examiner.
BERKELEY — Fans of poutine and pastrami sandwiches in Berkeley were saddened to learn of the “hibernation” of Augie’s Montreal Deli in 2021, but there was always hope the restaurant would land in a new Berkeley home. Now we know, that’s not the case. Instead, the deli found two new spots in the year-and-change since that announcement and is now operating as a vendor at both SAP Center and Chase Center, serving food at Sharks and Warriors games, Berkeleyside reports.
SANTA ROSA — Cattlemens is closing up shop in Santa Rosa after 52 years in the Montgomery Village shopping center, the Press Democrat reports, wrapping up its run at the end of the year. While it’s a sad time for locals who frequented that location, it’s not entirely bad news: The company plans to relocate the restaurant to Rohnert Park.
MOUNTAIN VIEW — Maru Ichi served its last bowl of ramen in September after 19 years serving shoyu and tonkotsu ramen in Mountain View, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
October 5
NORTH BEACH — While you can still satisfy your blue corn tortilla cravings at Barrio’s newer location at Ghirardelli Square, the Latin-Mexican restaurant’s outpost on Powell Street in North Beach has closed, the owner confirmed via email this week. The team is working on what’s next for the space, so stay tuned for updates.
OUTER SUNSET — As Eater SF reported, hit bagel maker Nick Beitcher of Midnite Bagel is pulling out of the Outer Sunset, shutting down his retail shop later this month. He’ll keep the wholesale and farmers market arms of the business running though, for all the fans of his uniquely Californian sourdough bagels.
OUTER SUNSET — You’ll have to head out to Mission Bay for beer and whiskey now that the Outer Sunset Seven Stills taproom has closed. The company announced the news on Instagram on September 23 but did not include a reason for downsizing to just one location.
BERKELEY — A Berkeley outpost of popular Korean fried chicken chain Bonchon suddenly closed, Berkeleyside reports. The restaurant, which was located at 2050 Berkeley Way, served students and local office workers for five years.
BERKELEY — As Eater SF reported previously, popular grilled meat restaurant the Kebabery will serve its final skewers on October 8. Owner Russell Moore, who gained attention for his live-fire cooking at the now-closed restaurant Camino, told the San Francisco Chronicle he’s getting out of the industry altogether.
OAKLAND — Former Miss Ollie’s chef and owner Sarah Kirnon announced the end of their pop-up Holders House at Forage Kitchen on Instagram, telling diners they have until October 7 to come through for fried chicken, okra, and other Caribbean food specialties.
OAKLAND — The San Francisco Chronicle reports Bay Area ice cream company Smitten shut down its Rockridge location in late September, as announced on Instagram. Locations in the Mission District and Santana Row in San Jose remain open.
OAKLAND — Classic Cars West, a destination for up-and-coming chefs to showcase their talents, put an end to its food and drink offerings this month, Berkeleyside reports. Since moving to Oakland in 2010, the car showroom hosted a number of notable pop-ups including Popoca, Portobela, the Hourglass Room, and Hella Vegan Eats.
RICHMOND — You’ll have until November 27 to head to Black Star Pirate BBQ at Point San Pablo Harbor in Richmond, the Mercury News reports. Owners Tony Carracci and Miss Suzie, who recently opened Baltic Kiss bar and restaurant also in Richmond, say the lease is up on the restaurant space. They encourage fans to come out for the restaurant’s final days, which will feature live music and, of course, plenty of barbecue including brisket, pulled pork, ribs, greens, and cowboy beans.
SAN CARLOS — Palo Alto Online reports that Redwood Coast Cider, which operated two taprooms in San Carlos and downtown San Mateo, closed both locations on October 1. According to one of the business owners “the decision to close was driven by increasing rents and local development,” the outlet reports.
SACRAMENTO — Sacramento beer lovers lost one option for a cold pint with the closure of Tower Brewing on October 2. The East Sacramento location will be taken over by High Water Brewing, the Sacramento Bee reports. Tower Brewing owner Jeff Howes said in a Facebook post that he had to shut down the business due to his declining health.
September 29
OUTER SUNSET — Outerlands, the much-loved Judah Avenue restaurant plying brunch-goers with sourdough toast and vibrant mimosas, closed on September 26. Owners Dave Muller and Lana Porcello say new owners will take over right away, though, so the closure may be a brief one.
BERKELEY — Alchemy Collective, a worker-owned coffee shop at 1741 Alcatraz Avenue, permanently closed at the end of September after a previously announced temporary closure. Berkeleyside reports a sign was posted to the door that says “we’re not sure what’s going to happen” and the collective “hope[s] to reach out to people who have realistic ideas of how to use the space.”
OAKLAND — The Kebabery’s resident pop-up Sesame a Tiny Bakery is shutting down operations to focus on finding its own space. The aptly named operation took to Instagram to let fans know October 1 would be the final day to get cake — for now.
OAKLAND — Maria Esquivel’s pop-up turned permanent space Chica closed after six years. Berkeleyside reported the restaurant’s closure announcement on Instagram; though the last day of service was September 18, the shop will flip into Xica and open in Levi’s Plaza in San Francisco.
LOS ALTOS — Celebrity chef Traci Des Jardins’ six-month-old restaurant El Alto is no more. Palo Alto Online broke the news of the out-of-the-blue closure, and details are scarce. In comparison to the 21 years Jardins’ restaurant Jardinière lasted, this shuttering comes as quite a shock.
September 21
DESIGN DISTRICT — The Grove’s Design District outpost has closed, the San Francisco Standard reported first, leaving only the Grove at Yerba Buena location open. The owners of the family-owned neighborhood cafe say the now-shuttered restaurant never recovered from the impact of the pandemic. An announcement on the restaurant website reads in part: “This lovely, charming neighborhood currently has far fewer people than prior to the pandemic. We have fought valiantly to survive and outlast the moment.”
MISSION — After a full century of serving tamales to the neighborhood, Mission District institution Roosevelt Tamale Parlor has closed. The restaurant’s current co-owner Aaron Presbrey tells Mission Local the restaurant “never quite bounced back from the pandemic,” and the building’s owner couldn’t guarantee a lease renewal since the building where the restaurant is located is up for sale. It’s unclear exactly when Roosevelt Tamale Parlor opened its doors, but the owners, who took over the business in 2012, celebrated its 100-year anniversary in November 2021.
September 14
MISSION — A favorite New York slice shop for many a drunk dancing fiend, Arinell Pizza on Valencia in the Mission closed on September 10. The original location in Berkeley is alive and well, but owner Ron Demirdijian told Mission Local costs were just too high and nightlife just too quiet these days.
EXCELSIOR — To everyone’s dismay, local dive and haunt Broken Record is closing on October 15. The news is hard for both Eater SF’s Dianne de Guzman, who penned an ode to the time when the dive was her neighborhood local, and would-be dictator of Flavor Town Guy Fieri, who visited that one time.
BERKELEY — Eater SF missed Brazillian Breads closing its 1707 Solano Avenue storefront. Berkeleyside reported the closure in mid-August as owner Del Rodrigues moved to North Carolina, doubling down on wholesale in grocery stores.
OAKLAND — After seven years dishing out Filipino soul food, the aptly named FlipNSoul turned off the lights for good. Berkeleyside reports the restaurant closed in August and served out of its storefront at 210 14th Avenue.
HEALDSBURG — Campo Fina, the wine country city of Healdsburg’s favorite spot for Italian bites and bocce, is closing on October 1. According to the San Francisco Chronicle owners Ari and Dawnelise Rosen cited a laundry list of issues including inflation, the labor shortage, and a rent that doubled since just the start of the year.
SACRAMENTO — Sacramento’s destination for gumbo and tostones of nearly 40 years Celestin’s is going dark. The Sacramento Bee says the French Creole and Cajun restaurant is closing for good this time, after relocating three times through its life span. Owners Patrick and Phoebe Célestin are looking to sell their business for $160,000.
September 8
BERKELEY — Berkelyside let readers know a 26-year-old pizza shop on University Avenue has gone dark. West Coast Pizza was a major stop on a late-night spree for many a Cal student over the years.
BERKELEY — The 2018 opening of Halal Guys in Berkeley was a big deal, so, understandably, the exodus of the East Coast chain is tough to swallow, too. Berkeleyside reports that the outpost closed permanently on August 22.
SAN LEANDRO — Doing the lord’s work, Berkeleyside also got intel from a reader that Pelton Plaza favorite Maejoo Wings closed for good on August 27. The shop’s website says it will announce on social media when it’s found a new coop for its rice bowls and wings.
REDDING — Way up north, a 90-year-old staple in the community Lim’s Cafe closed on September 6. SFGATE talked to the family in charge, who sold to local restaurateurs, about coming of retirement age and deciding it was time to call it quits.
August 31
NOPA — Things look pretty closed at Iraqi staple Jannah, known for its huge portions of dolmas and lamb since 2009. The “Baghdad by the Bay” restaurant is marked as closed on Yelp, and the windows and doors are all shuttered. Eater SF called the restaurant, listed as “permanently closed” on Apple Maps, but the line is disconnected. Chef Yahya Salih began delighting San Franciscans with his cooking in 1988 at Yahya Cuisine, opening and closing a number of other iterations before eventually settling in with Jannah.
HAIGHT — The windows of Haight Street’s Siam Lotus Thai Cuisine were covered with old newspapers just a week ago. Now in big bold letters, “Park’s Asian” sits where the former medieval-looking signage sat above the door. Only time will tell what Park’s Asian might bring.
BAYVIEW — To much disappointment, Auntie April’s Chicken-N-Waffles seems to have closed. While it’s unclear when, or why, a tipster wrote to Eater SF to say the phone is disconnected, DoorDash orders are halted, and even a diner on Yelp is reporting the closure. Eater SF called the restaurant and the line is indeed disconnected. The restaurant opened in 2008 and gained fans fast.
SACRAMENTO — The Big Boba Theory, an Elk Park Grove favorite, will close in the coming months. The Sacramento Bee reports Taiwanese boba chain Presotea will take over the location now that current owner Joseph Chin has bowed out; Chin says lease negotiations with the landlords ran aground.
August 24
MISSION — The news came as a shock to pretty much everyone: On August 18, chef Aaron London told the San Francisco Chronicle he plans to close his Michelin-starred restaurant AL’s Place as of August 28. For the past seven years, the Mission District restaurant has garnered both local and national acclaim, including being named the best new restaurant in the country by Bon Appetit in 2015.
SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Bee reports the closure of vegan bakery Mud Pie Stand, located in downtown Sacramento. The entirely vegan bakeshop cited rising food costs and a lack of customers as two of the reasons driving the owner’s decision to get “completely out” of the food industry.
SACRAMENTO — Capital Confections, a 25-year-old chocolate shop in Sacramento’s Arden Arcade neighborhood, is also closing its doors for good, per the Bee. The storefront at 2605 El Paseo Lane will shutter in September, but fans can rest easier knowing the business will continue some online sales after the fact.
August 11
EMBARCADERO — After almost 20 years at the Ferry Building, Golden Gate Meat Co. will close on August 20. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the business is an offshoot of the wholesale business of the same name, which launched in 1977. The business declined to comment on the closing.
SOMA — Chantal Guillon is officially over San Francisco. The macaron shop took to Instagram to say August 12 is the last day at the SoMa storefront. Thankfully, SFGATE points out, the Palo Alto location remains open.
CASTRO — Nash’s Hot Chicken is calling it quits after five months so the owners can open a sushi business instead, citing a customer base interested in healthier food options. Hoodline reports the restaurant will flip over on September 1.
EMERYVILLE — Everyone took a turn with the potential headlines, but SFGATE said it first: late night, Greenday-affiliated business Rudy’s Can’t Fail closed on August 8. The business garnered lots of attention during its decades-long run, even bringing in long-tenured Mayor of Flavortown Guy Fieri.
OAKLAND — Downtown Oakland Sri Lankan and Jamaican restaurant Anula’s Cafe closed at the beginning of August. KQED writes the final day of service was a party, and owner Anula Edirisinghe, who ran the business for 13 years, is happy to be retiring — though she’ll still do some catering here and there.
OAKLAND — The Brooklyn Basin location of Rocky’s Market is shuttering on August 31, East Bay Times reports. Owner Corinne Kinczel said the lack of business took its toll through the two years the business operated in the area. The original location at 1440 Leimert Boulevard will remain intact.
August 3
CIVIC CENTER — The Asian Art Museum’s cafe, Sunday at the Museum, closed July 31 after four years under chef Deuki Hong’s Sunday Family Hospitality Group, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The space paired Hong’s modern, Asian American food and desserts, with drinks from Boba Guys. Hong’s other ventures — Sunday Bakeshop and Sunday Social — remain open, while Sunday Gather temporarily closed for the month of July and is expected to reopen this month.
UNION SQUARE — A tipster noted that fried chicken sandwich purveyor Flybird has flown the coop from its Kearny Street location in Union Square. Fans of the brand should note, however, that the Tiburon location looks to be alive and well.
TENDERLOIN — Korean restaurant Lucky Pig closed permanently, with the owners stating the restaurant “reached a point where we can no longer be certain of our ability to operate trying to manage the shortages of supplies and staff, while keeping up with continued skyrocketing costs,” SFGATE reports. The restaurant first landed in the space in 2018.
HAIGHT — Broke-Ass Stuart broke the sad news that Club Deluxe is closing. A repost of owner Sarah Wilde’s announcement shared that the owner would like the club to move and continue, but are unsure how or when that might happen. “We need these investors to see us as having value in our community, but they do not, and so we vanish from the cityscapes they come into,” Wilde writes. There may be a little time left to patronize and play at Club Deluxe, as Wilde mentions there is still a “chance to grab a set” in her post.
NOE VALLEY — Lehr’s German Specialties, with all of its goods and specialty food items, is shutting down after 48 years in the neighborhood, according to SFGATE.
OAKLAND — Anula’s Cafe, serving Jamaican and Sri Lankan food for 13 years in downtown Oakland, is closing as of Thursday, August 4. Owner Anula Edirisinghe told the Chronicle it wasn’t easy to decide to close. “This is like my life, I love to cook, I love the people,” Edirisinghe says. “I talk to almost everybody. I get them fresh food. I make them smile in the face.”
OAKLAND — Rocky’s Market Brooklyn Basin is closing up shop after two years of food and performances. Mercury News reports the market, along with Two Local Girls, will be leaving the space at the end of the month. There will be some performances in the outdoor space before then, and Rocky’s on Leimert Boulevard will remain open.
BERKELEY — The Torpedo Room, the Berkeley taproom for Sierra Nevada Brewing, shut down operations at the end of July after nearly 10 years, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
SACRAMENTO — Taylor’s Kitchen closed its doors July 28, citing ongoing staffing issues, the restaurant stated on its Instagram. The Sacramento Bee noted the restaurant was known for its “New American fare and strong wine selection”; the market, meanwhile, will remain open.
July 27
NOE VALLEY — Paxti’s, the deep-dish specialist with locations in California, Colorado, and Washington, has closed its Noe Valley outpost on 24th Street, Tablehopper spotted. SFGATE paid tribute, noting that of the four locations once open in the city, only the Hayes Valley restaurant remains open today.
INNER RICHMOND — Guo “Lam” Yu, 62, and Li “Hong” Chen, 58, immigrated to San Francisco in 1984, eventually opening a bakery and restaurant on Clement Street in 1991. Now the couple plans to retire, SFGATE reports, which means shutting down their business Red A Bakery sometime in mid-August.
SAN MATEO — Palo Alto Online eulogized San Mateo’s 84-year-old Wing Fat restaurant, which served its final meals on July 24 after serving as a home-away-from-home for generations of Chinese American families and immigrants. The restaurant first opened in 1947 and is one of a handful of businesses displaced by an upcoming new development.
SANTA CLARA — After four decades of fresh fish and briny oysters, the Santa Clara location of the Fish Market has closed for good. Per SFGATE, the restaurant located at 3775 El Camino Real opened in 1976 and struggled to find its footing in the wake of a forced temporary closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Locations in Palo Alto and San Mateo remain open, according to the restaurant’s website.
SACRAMENTO — South Sacramento lost a destination for Lao-style khao soi, the Bee reports. Khao Soy House Thai Restaurant closed after just three years in business on July 22; owner Nai Leng Phomphakdy made the announcement on social media.
SACRAMENTO — And just in time for summer, Sacramento also lost a downtown ice cream parlor. Also via the Bee comes news that Devil May Care, which opened in 2016 in West Sacramento, served its final scoops last week. The announcement came via Instagram and owner Jess Milbourn said the business was served an eviction notice after being unable to meet rent costs.
July 21
OAKLAND — On July 29, Taiwan Bento will pack its last lunches. On Instagram the business announced its departure from the Bay Area food scene, attributing the shuttering to “many challenges in this industry, as well as hurt by a community member that we had devoted efforts and heart” in addition to a death in the family of co-owner Stacy Tang. The restaurant is known for bringing comfort to many a Taiwanese expat in search of food that reminds them of home, like when the restaurant rolled out dan bing in 2021.
BERKELEY — For 36 years 70-year-old Ryoji Arakaki served nigiri and rolls of all sorts to students and families alike on Martin Luther King Jr Way. Now, according to Nosh, Arakaki is saying it’s time to find new owners. If new ownership doesn’t come in soon, he says he’ll have to simply close the business.
SAN JOSE — A big development project is taking the keys to 4th Street Pizza in downtown San Jose and locking the doors for good. San José Spotlight writes that the 16-year-old business will close its shop in October when the lease expires. Across the street from then-newly constructed city hall, the pizza place is a favorite for city workers and San Jose State University students.
July 13
LOWER PAC HEIGHTS — Anyone driving down Pine Street has likely noticed the navy blue awning of Gourmet Carousel restaurant, a more-than 25-year-old neighborhood staple perched on the corner of Pine at Bush Street. Last week Tablehopper spotted a transfer of the restaurant’s liquor license that seems to both confirm the closure — and plans for a new owner to revive the space.
LOWER HAIGHT — As Eater SF previously reported, legacy business Two Jack’s Nik’s Place on Haight near Webster Street has closed after more than 45 years in business. Second generation owner and operator Nikki Cooper made the announcement on Instagram, adding that the restaurant’s staff will be able to move over to Two Jack’s Seafood in the Bayview.
LAUREL HEIGHTS — Also via Tablehopper comes confirmation of the closure of Derm Restaurant, a Thai restaurant on Geary Boulevard between Spruce Street and Parker Avenue. The restaurant hasn’t made any public announcements about closing, but the restaurant’s phone line doesn’t ring and the business is marked as permanently closed on Google and Yelp.
SACRAMENTO — Sacramento burger destination the Shack will serve its last meals at 5201 Folsom Boulevard on July 31, the Bee reports. The restaurant made the announcement on Facebook writing in part, “From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank our customers that have supported us for over 17 years, and helped us create the wonderful community that we love so very much.”
July 7
OUTER SUNSET — The first of a few Outer Sunset mentions is the most notable: inspiration to toast-enthusiasts and cold water swimmers everywhere, Trouble Coffee packed its bags suddenly last week. After 15 years, Giulietta Carreli took to Instagram to let her fans know that she was moving on. DamnFine, a pizza place up the road, took the keys to the shop from Carrelli as of July 2, according to the Chronicle.
OUTER SUNSET — Just off of 19th Avenue on Taraval Street, Eater SF noticed the lights off at Yogurt Gogo. The small shop’s Apple Maps entry is listed as “permanently closed,” and the phone number is disconnected, though it’s hard to know just when the final yogurt was swirled.
OUTER SUNSET — Lanna Thai Restaurant, right down the street from Yogurt Gogo, is permanently closed, too. While various online outlets list the restaurant as open, Yelp’s banner photo for the restaurant is a photo of a retirement announcement posted in August 2019. The sign says the restaurant was in business for 31 years.
EMERYVILLE — Patatas Kitchen closed on June 3 after nearly ten years in business. According to the Chronicle, the restaurant partners with the East Bay German International School and will continue providing school lunches until the end of the calendar year.
BERKELEY — Despite community pushback and lots of brouhaha, Berkeley tapas bar César is closing on July 23. The outrage and contention began when Berkeleyside reported in January that longtime landlord and neighbor Chez Panisse planned to end the bar’s sublease agreement this year.
HAYWARD — Buffalo Bill’s Brewery, an East Bay favorite founded by 84-year-old photographer Bill Owens, closed after 40 years in service. The Chronicle reports no particular reason was given for the closure. Owens photographed the infamous Rolling Stones Altamont concert in 1969 touted himself as the pioneer of the pumpkin ale.
