It’s the end of an era for the vegan community.
Oakland’s Souley Vegan, Portland's Homegrown Smoker, and other vegan restaurants are shutting down across the country. Check out this list of nationwide vegan restaurant closings for the latest news.
Souley Vegan
Oakland, CA
This vegan Creole spot closed the doors to its flagship restaurant in the Bay Area this fall. After almost 15 years of operation, owner Tamearra Dyson said, "It took some time, but due to various factors, with the major one being escalated crime in the area, I have decided to close my beloved Oakland location and pursue my dreams for Souley Vegan in other areas. We thank you for your love and support over the years, and we are excited about what is coming next.” As of now, all Souley Vegan locations and ghost kitchens are closed, but the business plans to return in the future in some capacity.
Courtesy of Souley Vegan
Love.Life
Los Angeles, CA
Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey opened Love.Life in Culver City this May with big plans to transform the shopping center into a wellness destination for all. However, the restaurant broke the news on Instagram this October about its sudden closure saying, “We are sad to share this news. Our decision is not a reflection of Love.Life’s commitment to nourishing food or the exceptional dining experience we offered in Ivy Station, but rather the challenges we experienced with limited foot traffic in an emerging development and a lower-than-expected return to office population.” Love.Life still plans to open its flagship restaurant in El Segundo next summer and to continue operating its Miami location.
Courtesy of Love.Life
VeganBurg
San Francisco, CA
This critically acclaimed vegan burger joint closed the doors to its San Francisco location this October. The restaurant did not share the reason for its closure but continues to operate its two Singapore locations, with plans to open a franchise location in Hesperia, California next year.
Courtesy of VeganBurg
Homegrown Smoker
Portland, OR
Homegrown Smoker first threatened closure last year but was thankfully purchased by a fellow Portland vegan restaurant owner. Fast forward to this August, under its new direction, Homegrown Smoker took to Instagram to announce its decision to shut down. “The primary reason for this decision is that our owner is dealing with some health issues, and our original partner trainee stepped away from the restaurant industry. We’ve been trying, and it’s been proven difficult to find a replacement. The toll it has taken on our concept and staff members has been significant, and we have made this decision to avoid any further prolongation of the situation. The team's mental health is priority, and in many ways, this will be the right move.”
Courtesy of Homegrown Smoker
Gracias Madre
San Francisco, CA
It’s a tough time for Bay Area vegans because this well-known plant-based Mexican spot closed its San Francisco location in August. The Gracias Madre team did not state the reason for its Northern California closure, but its two Southern California restaurants remain open.
Courtesy of Gracias Madre
Stalk & Spade
Multiple Locations
This Minnesota-based vegan burger chain once had big plans to open over 12 locations across the country, but couldn’t see it through. As of November 1, Stalk & Spade closed all three locations. The team shared, “Over the past couple of years, we've experienced first-hand the unpredictable landscape of the plant-based meat and dairy alternatives industry, which has led us to make this hard choice.”
Courtesy of Stalk & Spade
Radish Kitchen
Peoria, IL
The charming Illinois vegan eatery Radish Kitchen will close on December 22. Owner Jam Rohr wrote on Instagram, “I have so much that I want to say about how incredibly proud I am of the accomplishments we’ve reached and all of my favorite ways we’ve collaborated with the community the last three years, but for now I want to lay out how we will be wrapping up over the next five weeks.” She went on to share how customers can support the staff and order food before the restaurant shuts down.
Courtesy of Radish Kitchen
Better Chew Kitchen
Vallejo, CA
Six months after opening in Vallejo, Better Chew Kitchen announced its closure until further notice. It is unclear why the restaurant closed, but it suffered several break-ins, which could be a contributing factor. Chef GW Chew wrote on Instagram, “We truly appreciate all of the support over the past year, and we are amazingly grateful for our Vallejo community. We will keep you all posted as to our next steps. Please keep us in your prayers as we navigate our future.” Customers can continue to support Better Chew by purchasing its vegan comfort food products online or in stores.
Courtesy of Better Chew Kitchen
Citizen Eatery
Austin, TX
The latest vegan restaurant closure announced is Citizen Eatery. This Austin gem shared in an Instagram post, “Regrettably, despite the steadfast support of our regular clientele, we find ourselves unable to navigate the challenges of our ever-changing market.” Citizen Eatery officially closes this Sunday, December 3.
Courtesy of Citizen Eatery
Wholesome Bakery
San Francisco, CA
This vegan, gluten-free bakery closed the doors to its brick-and-mortar November 30. As sad as this news is, Wholesome Bakery will still be around to serve Bay Area vegans. Mandy Harper, founder and CEO of Wholesome Bakery wrote on Instagram “Oh, and don’t worry … we aren’t leaving the city, and yes, you will still be able to order from us online at WholesomeBakery.com.”
Courtesy of Wholesome Bakery
