Say farewell to these three beloved vegan restaurants in Los Angeles.
Restaurants are opening and closing more than ever due to the aftermath of the pandemic, financial strain, and lease issues, among other reasons. The latest LA vegan restaurant closures include Nic’s On Beverly, The Gray Zebra, and Veggie Y Qué.
Nic’s On Beverly Closes in Beverly Grove
Update (June 20, 2023): Nic’s on Beverly recently announced that they’ve come to an agreement with their landlord and will remain open until further notice.
Earlier this week, Nic’s On Beverly broke the news via Instagram that they would be closing permanently. This closure comes as a shock to the LA vegan community, as Nic’s On Beverly is a staple for many plant-based eaters in the city. Customers rave about Nic’s stunning dining room and patio, stellar food, and brilliant cocktails.
So, this is the part where we all wonder why the top-rated restaurant is closing. Owner Nic Adler explains in the Instagram caption, “We went ten months during the Covid shutdown, the takeout only, the stop and start of 2020 where we couldn’t pay rent. We focused on paying the employees and keeping the business alive by selling burgers and pizza. We have worked with the landlord for the past year, but ultimately, we cannot find an arrangement that works for them. They want it all.”
Rather than focusing on the reason for his restaurant’s closure, Adler would like to celebrate the time everyone had at the restaurant. He continued on in the Instagram caption to thank the entire staff, commemorate the first friends and family preview four years ago, and welcome customers back for one last meal together. “As I did four years ago, I welcome you all back one last time. One thing I ask you all is to be kind and generous to the hard-working team that are our heart and soul. We are sad, all of us. We need your smiling faces to walk through the door so we can say ‘Welcome Back’ for one last time,” shared Adler.
Nic’s On Beverly closes its doors in Beverly Grove right after Father’s Day brunch service on Sunday, June 18. But Nic’s fans can still enjoy a similar dining experience when Adler and his team open their new vegan Italian restaurant Argento in Silver Lake this summer.
Courtesy of Nic’s On Beverly
The Gray Zebra Shuts Down in East Hollywood
The second recent vegan restaurant closure is The Gray Zebra. This fast-casual vegan restaurant first opened in March of 2022. They took over the space of the now-closed vegan spot Gegen. The news of The Gray Zebra shutting down in East Hollywood came out on Instagram on May 26.
Owner Nabiha Basathia wrote on Instagram, “After a wonderful run here in East Hollywood, we will be closing the doors to The Gray Zebra. I am grateful to each and every one of our customers that tried our food and/or supported in any way. I loved being a part of this community and sharing vegan deliciousness with you all.” She went on to say that another vegan restaurant will take over the space, but no more details are known about the new spot.
Courtesy of The Gray Zebra
Veggie Y Qué Halts Service in Whittier, Looks for New Space
In the last bit of vegan restaurant closure news, we bring you an update on Veggie Y Qué in Whittier. In case you missed it, this vegan Mexican street food spot shared an Instagram post in April announcing that their landlord would no longer be renewing their lease. After that, it appeared that Veggie Y Qué had come to a lease agreement and would be continuing service. But late this May, Veggie Y Qué took to Instagram again with a sad update—the landlord had rescinded their previous offer to extend the lease, and they would indeed be closing on July 16.
Although this presents quite a challenge for Veggie Y Qué owner Laura Jardon, she is not giving up on her commitment to the Whittier community. Jardon is actively looking for a new location to re-open. In lieu of a GoFundMe, Veggie Y Qué is asking customers to purchase gift cards until July 16 to financially support their re-opening.
Courtesy of Veggie Y Qué
