In this weekly column, Eater documents the city’s permanent restaurant and bar closures. If a restaurant or bar in your neighborhood has closed, let us know at [email protected].
16.August
Bed Stuy: The Pilar Cuban Eatery closed last summer. The neighboring bakery Cuban Bakery Pilarwhich opened in 2019, has also closed. It was known for its dulce de leche and guava layer cake, as well as its savory pastries with Cuban ingredients. 397 Greene Avenue, near Bedford Avenue
Clinton Hill: First, Mekelburg’s closed in the neighborhood. Now the vegan sister café Guevara, which opened in 2020, has closed. Both brands are currently open at their Domino Park satellite locations in Williamsburg. Guevara’s became known for its colorful vegan torta with red cabbage as well as its empanadas with meatless fillings. But its attractive outdoor dining options cemented it as a neighborhood go-to spot during the height of the pandemic. 39 Clifton Place, corner of Grand Avenue
East Village: TLK by Tigerlily Kitchen was closed in connection with the impending demolition of 50-64 Third Avenue, reports EV Grieve. Two Toronto-based developers paid about $60 million for the section. 58 Third Avenue, corner of East 11th Street
Kip’s Bay: After 52 years in business Mexico Lindo closed on July 31. “Spend our final days with us,” the website says. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to enrich your life celebrations with our family traditions, home-cooked meals and loving hospitality… With great love and gratitude, we say adios,” it says. The children of founders Antonio and Leonor Bonilla – Claudia, Lara, Adriana and Leonor Bonilla – wrote the farewell letter. 459 Second Avenue, corner of East 26th Street
Upper West Side: Clara And Cafe 77 from the group behind Rucola, June Wine Bar, Anaïs, Rhodora and Accord Market in the north of the state, have closed after less than a year at the New York Historical Society: “The restaurant and cafe business is very challenging,” a spokesperson said. When the restaurant opened, it was run by chef Diego Moya. The museum says it will offer something in its place. It is the second restaurant to close at that location. For over a decade, the museum was home to two of Stephen Starr’s restaurants: Storico and the attached Parliament Espresso and Coffee Bar, which closed in July 2023. 170 Central Park West at West 77th Street
Williamsburg: With its small cocktail menu, Basic — a place that drinks writer Robert Simonson calls a “bartender’s bar” — closed on Aug. 12. Owner Jay Zimmerman told Simonson there were two reasons for the closure: “There are facts and feelings. The facts are that post-pandemic, crowds are different; and our lease expired, so we signed a lease with increased rent,” he said. “… financially, the facts didn’t work out so well.” And becoming a father also influenced the decision to close. 323 Graham Avenue, corner of Devoe Street
9 August
East Village: Open for a decade, Black ant closed earlier this summer. The Mexican restaurant owned by Ofrenda in the West Village announced its closure on Instagram. 60 Second Avenue and East Fourth Street
East Village: Open in Manhattan since 2020 and previously in Brooklyn for four years, Elisa’s Love Bites has closed its shop, according to EVGrieve. On Instagram, owner Elisa Lyew writes: “A delicious new chapter begins – stay tuned for more details!” 441 E. Ninth Street, corner of Avenue A
Greenwich Village: Hancock St has closed after three years to make way for Cha Cha Tang, which hosted its seven-week pop-up in the space before taking over. 257 Sixth Avenue, corner of Bedford Street
Greenwich Village: Munchiez has closed from owners Ivy and Ben Chen, whose parents run the decades-old Mei Lai Wah Bakery in Chinatown. The basement shop, which was modeled after Hong Kong convenience stores, offered a menu of pork buns, popcorn chicken, shumai and salt-and-pepper wings — and stayed open until 3 a.m. on weekends. Ivy Chen says something is planned for Chinatown next. 126 MacDougal Street, near West Third Street
Hell’s Kitchen: Winemaker beer & cheese has closed, a source confirms. The neighborhood store had been in business for 15 years. Owners Dale and Mitch Weiner cited a decline in business following the pandemic and rising prices for goods and insurance as reasons for the closure. 677 Ninth Avenue, corner of 46th Street
Upper West Side: The Little Parisian closed this week after less than a year in business due to a rent increase. West Side Rag reports that a move is planned. The chain has three other locations in the city. 170 Amsterdam Avenue, corner W. 68th Street
Upper West Side: The AvenueAn Irish pub has closed after one year of operation. 480 Amsterdam Avenue corner West 83rd Street
2 August
Astoria: Open since 1956, Neptune Diner has closed after losing its lease. Peter and George Katsihtis have owned the building since the 1980s, but not the property, which was sold for over $10 million in 2018. They own locations of the restaurant in Brooklyn and Bayside. 3105 Astoria Boulevard, corner of 31st Street
Bed Stuy: Greedy Vegan has closed, according to Instagram. The dining room is closed, but owner Latisha Daring is offering catering pickup options, 7 to 10 day lead time, $500 minimum order. 326 Tompkins Avenue, corner of Gates Avenue
Chinatown: Open since 1961, New Golden Fung Wong has closed. The long-standing bakery closed on July 31 after decades of selling year-round products such as moon cakes and Kong Soh Peng cookies. 41 Mott Street, corner of Bayard Street
East Village: Since 2021, this location has been Four Four South Village has closed, the Taiwanese restaurant serves variations of beef noodle soup and other specialties. The locations in Flushing and Hell’s Kitchen remain open. 11 E. Seventh Street and Third Avenue
East Village: Aoi Kitchen has closed, according to the restaurant’s Instagram. The last day was July 28; the owners are keeping the space and turning it into a wine bar. The restaurant was a sister restaurant to Bar Orai. 320 E. Sixth Street, corner of Second Avenue
East Village: The groundbreaking dessert destination, open since 2003, Chikalicious The dessert bar has closed. Chef Chika Tillman and her husband Don’s 20-seat counter was modeled after Japanese omakases. Although Chika Tillman is retiring, the online cake shop and cafe will live on, “but it won’t be what it is now. No dessert bar, no dessert focus, just a little cafe,” Don Tillman told Grub Street. 203 E. 10th Street, corner of Second Avenue
East Village: Murphy’s, The restaurant, which has been serving Jamaican pies since 2022, has closed. The owners told EVGrieve that they are moving to a new location. 440-A E. Ninth Street, at Avenue A
East Village: A nearly 30-year-old Starbucks has closed, EVGrieve reported. Landlord ASG Equities told the publication that it had offered Starbucks a lease extension at the exact same rent (which would disprove the theory that the closure is due to a rent increase). In a statement to EVGrieve, Starbucks said, “We have engaged Workers United to work with us on next steps, including relocation options, for the 17 partners currently employed at this location.” EVGrieve noted that the unionized Starbucks in Greenpoint has closed. 21 Astor Place, corner of Lafayette Street
Greenwich Village: There was closed on July 27 after about a year, a spokesperson told Eater. 76 Carmine Street, corner of Seventh Avenue South
Rockefeller Center: Two fast-casual restaurants have closed: a location of the fried chicken chain David Chang Fuku has closed, together with Samesa out of Eli and Max Sussman have been replaced by Luke’s Lobster, a spokesperson confirmed. 30 Rockefeller Center, Rink Level, on Sixth Avenue
Upper East Side: Lashevet was closed after two years of operation. The cafe served a mix of Moroccan, Israeli and Lebanese dishes. 1663 First Avenue at East 86th Street
Upper West Side: Kees Chocolate has closed and is apparently looking for a new location. The store, which has been open at this location since 2019, has reached the end of its lease, according to West Side Rag. In 2006 New York Times T-Magazin called the sweets “the best chocolates in New York. Maybe in the world.” 228 Columbus on West 70th Street
