A massive new round of restaurant aid is on the way. The country’s vaccine rollout is gaining steam. And warmer weather is on the horizon in much of the country. Despite many reasons for optimism, independent restaurants continue shutting their doors as the impacts of the pandemic continue.
More than 100,000 restaurants closed in the U.S. in 2020, according to the National Restaurant Association. And half of diners surveyed said that a restaurant they loved had gone out of business during the coronavirus crisis, with 65% of respondents in the Northeast saying they’d lost a beloved eatery, according to a survey earlier this month from LendingTree of more than 1,000 consumers.
Here are some of the latest closures of iconic independent restaurants from around the country:
Dahlia Lounge, Seattle
Restaurateur Tom Douglas opened his high-end Dahlia Lounge in Seattle 32 years ago. As of last week, the restaurant is no longer. The space will be repurposed into Douglas’ Serious Pie, a concept billed as “a pizzeria with a bread baker’s soul” that serves sandwiches and salads in addition to pizzas cooked in a 600-degree wood-burning oven.
“I think it’s fair to say the Dahlia, among other restaurants downtown, helped solidify Seattle as a destination dining town,” Douglas told The Seattle Times, adding that he is mulling the future of three of his other downtown restaurants.
Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop, New York City
Old-school diner Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop, which has been in business since 1929, appears to be permanently closed, as of last week. The restaurant, known for its tuna melts and cream cheese-olive sandwiches, has a “for lease” sign in its window. Local media report that the space is being offered to new operators and that the landlord would like to see Eisenberg’s reopen.
Howard Deli, Washington, D.C.
The loss of foot traffic at Howard University, caused by the pandemic, apparently lead to the closure of the Howard Deli after 40 years in business. Deli owner Kent “Kenny” Gilmore has also suffered a series of strokes and is unable to continue running the business, according to a GoFundMe set up by Gilmore’s oldest sister.
“COVID significantly impacted sales at the deli since his beloved Howard University and Benjamin Banneker High School faculty and students were not physically present to create foot traffic into the deli,” the GoFundMe said.
La Casita Mexican Restaurant & Cantina; Bishop, Calif.
The owners of La Casita Mexican Restaurant & Cantina announced last week that the restaurant would close permanently after operating since 1982.
“We would like to thank our loyal customers, our trusted vendors, and, most of all, our staff, many of whom are more like family to us,” the owners wrote on Facebook. “We wish other area restaurants well and how they are able to come out of the pandemic whole.”
Grilled Cheese Grill; Portland, Ore.
Although it was a food truck and not a brick-and-mortar restaurant, Grilled Cheese Grill logged an 11-year-run in Portland, Ore., before announcing its permanent closure earlier this month.
At one time, the concept had two food carts and a mobile catering rig.
“Thanks for coming by and getting a sandwich,” owner Matt Breslow wrote on Facebook. “Thanks for having us cater your wedding. Thanks for dancing to Snoop with me at 2 a.m. after stumbling hungry out of the Bye & Bye. And, most importantly, thank you to all of the great people that came and worked with me. I hope you had a blast. I know I sure did.”
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