A Running List of NYC Restaurants That Have Permanently Closed, September 2020

More than six months into the coronavirus pandemic, restaurants across the city continue to close en masse. Between March 1 and September 1, Eater documented close to 150 restaurant and bar closures — a mere fraction of the pandemic’s toll so far, which the New York Times estimates has already claimed at least 1,000 eating and drinking establishments. Among them are neighborhood favorites like Uncle Boons and Maison Premiere, along with sites of teenage debauchery like FiDi’s China Chalet and the glitzy McDonald’s flagship store off Times Square.

In all likelihood, though, this is only the beginning of permanent closures in New York, as loans from the Paycheck Protection Program run dry, rent payments continue to mount, and plans for a return to indoor dining remain unclear. According to a September survey from the New York State Restaurant Association, as many as two-thirds of state’s restaurants could permanently close by the end of the year if they don’t receive additional government aid. Due to the difficulty of tracking restaurant and bar closings right now, experts say that number could be even higher, and will likely only continue to grow.

Below, Eater is documenting the city’s permanent restaurant closures so far. If a restaurant or bar has closed in your neighborhood, send us a photograph a few lines letting us know how you learned about the closure at tips@eater.com. This post will be updated weekly.

September 25

Bed-Stuy: Fifteen years after Colador Cafe opened its doors, the American restaurant will now close them. “We haven’t been able to open due to the risks our elderly cooks,” the restaurant shared in an Instagram post in April. “We can’t have them risk commuting to work.” In August, a sign appeared on the restaurant’s doorstep announcing the closure, which the owners attributed to the coronavirus pandemic.

Boerum Hill: Longstanding neighborhood restaurant Carroll Gardens Classic Diner is no more, the building’s landlord confirmed to the Brooklyn Paper. “They weren’t able to make a go of it, with the virus and everything, they shut down,” Herbert Wiener said in an interview with the publication. Despite its name, the neighborhood diner owned by Spero Katehis was located in Boerum Hill and now joins a growing list of diners that have closed in recent years.

Chelsea, Upper West Side: Both locations of Le Pif Wine Bar have permanently closed, according to neighborhood blog I Love the Upper West Side. The Chelsea location opened in 2015.

Chelsea: Bahn mi spot Cô Ba has permanently closed. A “retail for lease” sign now hangs in the window.

Chelsea: Sandwich spot BEC has permanently closed. A tipster noticed a “for rent” sign in the window and both the restaurant’s website and phone number are down.

East Village: Neighborhood bar and restaurant Eliza’s Local has permanently closed after a little less than two years on Saint Marks Place. The bar was named for Elizabeth Hamilton, who co-founded the city’s first private orphanage and lived next door with her husband Alexander Hamilton.

East Village: After a brief outdoor dining run, Ravagh Persian Grill on First Avenue has permanently closed after close to six years on the block. The restaurant’s management confirmed the closure to local blog EV Grieve in a message on Instagram.

East Village: Longtime French restaurant Jules Bistro closed after nearly 30 years of business due to the financial downturn caused by the coronavirus crisis. A tipster observed furniture being taken out of the restaurant, and the establishment’s website is now down. The restaurant opened on St. Marks Place in 1993.

Greenwich Village: New York City vegan institution Sacred Chow has permanently closed after 25 years on Sullivan Street. Earlier this month, neighborhood blog Bowery Boogie reported that the Greenwich Village restaurant was selling its kitchen equipment ahead of its September 14 closure.

Greenwich Village: Fine dining restaurant Ardyn appears to have permanently closed. A tipster informs Eater that a for rent sign is hanging in the door. The restaurant’s phone went unanswered, its website no longer lists the physical location, and its social media accounts haven’t been updated since early August.

Harlem: Ethiopian restaurant Zoma appears to have closed for good. The restaurant website and phone number are both down.

Harlem: Taproom Hop House appears to have permanently closed. The restaurant closed in March due to the pandemic and has not reopened since. The restaurant’s phone has also been disconnected.

Hell’s Kitchen: Longtime neighborhood Thai restaurant Room Service appears to have permanently closed. The website is down, and the phone number for the restaurant has been disconnected. Diners have also reported a “for rent” sign hanging in the door, on Instagram.

Koreatown: Manhattan seafood boil spot Cajunsea and Oyster Bar closed its doors for good this weekend. “As much as it was an absolute pleasure to serve you for the past six years, we are unfortunately now officially closed,” the restaurant shared in a post to Instagram.

Meatpacking District: Brunch favorite Bubby’s has closed its Meatpacking District location. A tipster recently observed furniture being removed from the restaurant on Gansevoort Street, and a “retail for lease” sign now hangs in the window. The Tribeca outpost is still open.

Midtown East: French spot Le Bateau Ivre appears to have permanently closed. The restaurant’s phone line is down, though it appears that the restaurant was offering outdoor dining earlier this month.

Prospect Heights: Cozy neighborhood spot the Vanderbilt appears to have permanently closed. The restaurant’s phone is out of service.

Prospect Heights: Soda fountain turned bar Soda Bar appears to have permanently closed. The pub opened for outdoor dining in June, but its phone line is now out of service and its social media accounts haven’t been updated since July.

Soho: Self-described “healthy lifestyle” taco joint Taco Dumbo has permanently shuttered several locations, including its Soho outpost. A store employee confirmed that the chain’s shops in Soho, Dumbo, and Penn Station are all closed. Taco Dumbo’s two Midtown locations, plus a shop in the Garment District, are still open.

September 17

Bushwick: Wine bar Flowers for All Occasions has permanently closed after five years. The owners made the announcement on Instagram and cited a lack of outdoor space and “a landlord too wealthy to understand every day people’s problems.”

Upper East Side: Bakery Padoca has closed. A sign posted on the window reads “we tried, we really did.” The bakery cited the downturn from the pandemic as the reason behind the store closure. The bakery will still remain open for local delivery, nationwide shipping, and catering.

Flatiron: New Orleans-inspired restaurant Bo’s Kitchen and Bar Room has closed. The owners didn’t cite a reason but a video posted on Instagram is captioned “the end,” and shows a video of the restaurant with barstools turned up on a counter.

East Village: Fast-food destination the Nugget Spot has closed after seven years in the neighborhood. The owners made the announcement on Instagram. The post suggests that the restaurant hopes to make a return in some form in the future.

West Village: Decades-old institution Fedora, which was most recently helmed by prolific restaurateur Gabriel Stulman, permanently closed due to a variety of hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

East Village: Famed bar Coyote Ugly shut down its East Village location after 27 years citing failed rent negotiations. Fans of the establishment should take solace in the fact that it will likely reopen in a new location in the neighborhood.

Ridgewood: Neighborhood cocktail bar the Factory has permanently closed. A tipster sent a photo of a closure sign posted in the bar’s front window, and the news was confirmed on the bar’s Instagram account. The reason for the closure was not stated.

September 10

Astoria: A Queens outpost of Puerto Rican chain Don Coqui’s has permanently closed after close to a decade. A “rent” sign hangs in the restaurant’s window.

Bed-Stuy: Neighborhood date spot Kleinberg’s will not be reopening. The restaurant with Latin and American diner fare temporarily closed in March, following the state-mandated ban on indoor dining, and Yelp now indicates that it’s closed for good.

Bushwick: Vibey Mexican restaurant Guadalupe Inn has closed after nearly four years in Bushwick. The 80-seat restaurant with a dining room stage was known for hosting live performances of mariachi and other local talent. In an email chain with other local businesses, co-owner Ivan Garcia confirmed the closure and announced the sale of the restaurant’s kitchen equipment. The restaurant later confirmed in an announcement on Instagram that its last day would be Sunday, September 6.

Carroll Gardens: Destination taco and tortilla spot La Slowteria has left the neighborhood after eight years. Google and Yelp indicate that the restaurant has permanently closed, while it’s Instagram bio proclaims, “We are closed,” in all capital letters.

Chelsea: 24-hour spot Good Stuff Diner has permanently closed. The neighborhood mainstay was unable to negotiate a favorable rent, and the previous uncertainty around the return of indoor dining also contributed to the closure, according to a note posted by the owners on the door.

Chelsea: Japanese cut-to-order steakhouse Pepper Lunch has permanently closed all of its New York City locations, according to a notice posted to its restaurants’ doors. “We’ve tried to approach the issue from every angle possible, considering all the different ways that would allow us to reopen,” according to the letter. “Due to the financial stress of Covid-19, we have made the painful and difficult decision to close our doors permanently.” Pepper Lunch has hundreds of locations in more than 15 countries, including Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong.

Chinatown: Longtime neighborhood candy store Aji Ichiban has closed after more than 20 years in the neighborhood. The reason for closure wasn’t immediately apparent, but this location marked the first East Coast outpost of the Hong Kong-based chain.

Cobble Hill: Turkish restaurant Sumela To Go has closed, according to the Infatuation. Yelp indicates that a “for rent” sign hangs in the restaurant’s window.

Columbia Street Waterfront District: After 10 years, 40 Knots has closed for good. The neighborhood bar cited the downturn from the coronavirus pandemic as the reason behind its closure.

Downtown Brooklyn: The Metrotech Center outpost of Korilla Barbecue has closed, according to tipsters in the neighborhood. The phone line has been disconnected and Yelp indicates that the restaurant is gone for good.

East Village: Formerly home to one of the best burgers in NYC, neighborhood spot Black Emperor Bar has closed for now. It’s last day of service was August 31. The fallout from the pandemic led to the closure, but the owners indicated on Instagram that they might return in the future.

East Village: Burrito chain Blockheads has closed its East Village outpost. The storefront on Third Avenue has been stripped of its signage, though the burrito chain still has locations in Midtown and on the Upper West Side.

East Village: All-day cafe Broken Coconut appears to have permanently closed and now has for-rent signs posted in the windows, according to EV Grieve. The restaurant, which sold housemade yogurts, salads, and grain bowls, was in the neighborhood for about three years.

East Village: Art gallery-slash-coffee shop By Name appears to have permanently closed. The location has been cleared out and the website for the shop is no longer functional, EV Grieve reports.

East Village: Popular Roman-style pizzeria Mani in Pasta has closed, according to Yelp. Local blog EV Grieve reported that the East Village restaurant appeared to be closed earlier this month, citing a “store for rent” sign in its window and a burglary that occurred at the restaurant in June.

East Village: Shaved ice and dessert shop Snowdays appears to have permanently closed. There hasn’t been an official announcement of the closure, but local blog EV Grieve reports that the space has been completely cleared out and is currently listed on real estate site Ripco. An employee at the chain’s Bay Ridge location confirmed that the shop is closed “at least temporarily” due to COVID-19.

East Village: Neighborhood Thai restaurant Lui’s Thai Food has closed after seven years. Owner and chef Pimnapa “Lek” Sunthatkolkarn was hospitalized in mid-August, and even though she has now been discharged, Sunthatkolkarn has shuttered the restaurant to focus on her recovery.

Forest Hills: The neighborhood outpost of Flushing noodle shop Ren Wen Noodle Factory has permanently closed. This second location, which opened in the summer of 2018, comes from C.S Wong, also the owner of Wonton Foods, one of the country’s largest manufacturers of noodles and fortune cookies. The Infatuation first reported the closure of the Forest Hills location, and Yelp later confirmed that the store in Flushing had also closed.

Forest Hills: Budget omakase restaurant Sushi Yasu has permanently closed after 16 years in Queens. Yelp and Google both indicate that the local sushi spot will not be reopening.

Greenpoint: Longtime Italian destination Adelina’s has closed after eight years in the neighborhood. The restaurant wasn’t able to provide outdoor seating because of a bus stop outside its location, and the owner said the building’s landlord wasn’t willing to renegotiate rent terms.

Harlem: Neighborhood spot Cafeine served its last cup of espresso on Labor Day. The Harlem coffee shop reopened for takeout in mid-May and unveiled an expanded outdoor seating area the next month, but it apparently wasn’t enough to keep its doors open.

Hell’s Kitchen: “Hell’s Kitchen’s original gay bar” has permanently closed. Ninth Avenue Saloon has been shuttered for a few weeks, but Yelp now indicates that the dive bar will not be returning. Local fans of the bar have been sharing photos and memories on Instagram.

Midtown: One of Midtown’s solid lunch and happy hour options has permanently closed. 800 Degrees, a wood-fired pizza and rotisserie meats spot, is permanently closed, according to Yelp, and a tipster spotted that crew members were removing furniture from the space back in August.

Midtown: After a 41-year run in Midtown’s Little Brazil, Ipanema has permanently closed. “As a first generation Portuguese and Brazilian family, serving Little Brazil Street and beyond has truly been the pleasure of our lives”, says owner Victor Pedro in an announcement on Instagram. The restaurant celebrated its last day of service on Friday, September 4 and hinted that there may be plans for a comeback.

Park Slope: Popular Fifth Avenue sports bar 200 Fifth has permanently closed after more than three decades in the neighborhood, according to local blog Patch.com. The restaurant did not cite a reason for closing, but its managers thanked customers for “a fantastic 33+ years” in a post on Facebook.

Park Slope: Coffee shop and wine bar Chocolateria has closed. Yelp indicates that the neighborhood restaurant has permanently closed, while a tipster in the neighborhood reports that the building has been stripped of its signage, seats, and and kitchen equipment.

Riverdale: One of Riverdale’s only Indian restaurants has closed after roughly two decades. Yelp indicates that Cumin Indian Food will not be reopening, while residents in the neighborhood have mourned the loss of the restaurant in posts on Instagram. A “store for rent” sign now hangs in its window.

West Village: Prolific NYC restaurateur Gabe Stulman closed cozy gastropub Bar Sardine at the end of August citing failed lease negotiations as the reason for closure.

West Village: Hudson Street’s pizza and pasta restaurant Il Mattone is no more, Google and Yelp indicate. The restaurant’s signage and kitchen equipment were removed back in August, according to a tipster in the neighborhood.

Williamsburg: Longtime East Village hot dog joint Crif Dogs appears to have permanently closed its Williamsburg location. Yelp indicates the location is closed, and the Williamsburg location has been removed from the hot dog spot’s website.

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article stated that Crown Heights’ Catfish had closed. The restaurant plans to reopen in the coming months.

September 3

Astoria: Indian fine dining hotspot Kurry Qulture closed its doors in July after five years in the neighborhood. Owner Sonny Solomon attributed the closure to the city’s indefinite ban on indoor dining, which sealed the upscale, seasonal restaurant’s fate.

Bushwick: The Skilled Archer, an all-day cafe and coffee shop, has permanently closed after two years, according to residents in the neighborhood. The coffee shop posted a note to its front door announcing the closure and the space has been emptied of its furniture and kitchen supplies.

Chinatown: Chinatown mainstay Amazing 66 has permanently closed after 14 years, owner Helen Ng confirmed in an August report to Sing Tao Daily. The restaurant temporarily closed due to the indoor dining ban in March, but four months later, business wasn’t “getting any better,” Ng said. The restaurant’s sidewalk space isn’t large enough to fit multiple outdoor dining tables, while one of its largest profit drivers — large family gatherings — is off the table for the foreseeable future. “So we decided to give up,” she said.

Chinatown: Longtime dim sum restaurant Golden Mandarin Court is no more. In early August, owner Shirley Lo told Sing Tao Daily that the restaurant was at risk of closing due to lower foot traffic and having virtually “no business.” The website phone line and website for Golden Mandarin Court have expired and been disconnected, respectively, while Google lists the restaurant as permanently closed.

Chinatown: Decades-old coffee shop and dim sum spot Hop Shing permanently closed its doors earlier this summer. The Manhattan Chinatown veteran went dark over the summer and its owners later confirmed the closure in a Sing Tao Daily report translated and re-published by City Limits in early August. An Eater tipster spotted kitchen equipment being hauled out of the restaurant this week.

Crown Heights: Brooklyn’s beloved boozy dessert bar, Butter and Scotch, is set to permanently close after six years, according to an announcement on the bakery’s Instagram page. “The time has come to bid our quirky, divey, sparkly, raunchy, feisty, tiny bar at 818 Franklin Ave adieu,” owners Keavy Landreth and Allison Kave shared in the post. Leftover booze and bar stools are now available for sale online for September 12 pick-up. Landreth and Kave will continue to sell desserts online through the restaurant’s website.

East Village: Alphabet City’s nautical-themed bar the Lost Lady permanently closed a little over two weeks ago, according to owners Rob Ceraso and Jason Mendenhall. And from its ashes, a new restaurant has risen from the same team, an outdoor beer garden and seafood spot called Lost City Oyster House.

East Village: Charming seafood restaurant the Mermaid Inn has closed its original East Village location after more than 17 years in the neighborhood, co-owner Daniel Abrams confirmed to Eater. Abrams and partner Cindy Smith say their loans from the Paycheck Protection Program had run out and that they were unable to negotiate a rent agreement with the building’s landlord.

East Village: The East Village location of local ice cream chain Oddfellows is gone for good. A “for rent” sign hangs in the window of the ice cream shop, which has also been completely emptied, while the company has removed the location from its list of New York City stores. The Oddfellows located 55 East Houston Street, at Mott Street has also been removed from the company’s list of stores.

East Village: Middle Eastern chainlet Ravagh Persian Grill permanently closed its East Village location, EV Grieve reports. The restaurant’s four other locations in NYC and Long Island are still open and accepting online orders, per the company’s website.

Flatiron District: The second location of Union Square taqueria Flats Fix has closed a little over two years after opening. The restaurant space — located at 14 East 23rd Street, between Fifth and Park Avenues — was formerly occupied by Live Bait, a beloved 31-year-old Southern restaurant from the same owners. “After 33 fantastic years, Live bait/Flats Fix Says goodbye,” owners Charles Milite and Carolyn Benitez shared in a note posted to the building’s door.

Hells Kitchen: Taladwat, the ambitious Hell’s Kitchen restaurant lauded by New Yorker and Eater critics, closed on Sunday after less than two years of service. Co-owner Brian Ghaw confirmed to Eater that the restaurant was no longer sustainable, citing a falloff in Theater District dining.

Lower East Side: Wood-fired pizza restaurant Speedy Romeo has permanently closed its Lower East Side outpost, chef-owner Justin Bazdarich confirmed to Eater. The popular pizzeria quietly closed its doors a few weeks ago, as business had dropped by as much as 90 percent after the start of the pandemic. The restaurant’s original Clinton Hill pizzeria remains open for takeout, delivery, and outdoor dining.

Ridgewood: Popular modernist pizzeria Houdini Kitchen Laboratory is shutting down after six years in a cavernous spot that the New York Times declared “one of the coolest spaces in the city.” The pizza ranged from well-done familiar pies like the margherita and the romano to more experimental numbers such as the Stinky Feet, featuring raisins and rum-aged gorgonzola. “In this time, I feel a sense of victory and no regrets,” owner Massimilano Bartoli said in a video announcing the closure.

Soho: Breezy California cafe West-borne is shutting down after a brief but buzzy run in the neighborhood. The restaurant — known for its socially-conscious and employee-first initiatives including offering fully subsidized childcare for staffers — reached an impasse in rent negotiations with its landlord and owner Camilla Marcus was forced to pull the plug on the space.

Upper West Side: Mediterranean newcomer 8th Hill has closed after a brief one-year run on the Upper West Side. Yelp and Google list the restaurant as permanently closed, while the restaurant’s phone line has been disconnected and its website has been wiped clean.

Upper West Side: Santa Fe, a nearly 40-year-old Southwestern staple, appears to have permanently closed. A sign posted to the restaurant’s door indicates that the owners of 38 years were unable to reach a rent agreement with their landlord. “Santa Fe is closed for now,” the sign reads. “We hope to see you in the neighborhood someday soon.”

West Village: Beloved neighborhood tea shop Luv Tea has permanently closed after roughly four years in the West Village, according to an announcement on Instagram from owner Jaesy Wang and partner Wan Di. “Due to COVID-19, we will have to permanently close our West Village location and shift to online only while we work on relocating to another location,” according to the post.