As the Nosh columnist for openings and closings, it's my job to report on a lot of sad restaurant news. I inform folks when their beloved local bakery shuts down, when pizzerias close wordlessly, and when their go-to date night restaurants suddenly ghost them. And, while it's not always easy being the bearer of bad news, this particular story feels like a knife to my own ribs. This is a closure I hoped I'd never, ever have to write about.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Despite being surrounded by water, Staten Island boasts only a handful of dedicated seafood spots - and just one true, super-casual clam bar and lobster shack: Lobster House Joe's, located at 1898 Hylan Blvd. in Dongan Hills. After more than three decades of serving seafood lovers, the beloved eatery will close its doors on Oct. 30, marking the end of an era for one of the borough's most iconic seafood destinations.
"The time has come for us to hang up our aprons and say farewell," owner Mary Beth Liccioni announced in a post on Instagram. "When we opened our doors ... we never could have imagined the incredible journey ahead - the laughter shared over meals, the celebrations hosted at our tables, and the friendships that blossomed over the years. You welcomed us into your lives, and for that, we are forever grateful."
According to the Gazetteer, an employee confirmed on Monday that the Noe Valley Tacolicious site at 4063 24th St. has closed for good. Tacolicious, which has locations in San Francisco's Marina and Mission districts as well as one spot in Palo Alto, no longer lists the Noe Valley outpost on its website. It's unclear what led to the store closure. SFGATE reached out to Tacolicious for comment but did not hear back by publication.
Kasper's Hot Dogs shut down both of its remaining locations in mid-October, one in Concord and the other on Oakland's MacArthur Boulevard. Started in 1929 in Oakland by Kasper Koojoolian, the brand has now gone from roughly a dozen outposts around the Bay down to zero - though Caspers Hot Dogs, another East Bay chain, is still seemingly doing fine.
Foster started Phew's Pies in 2020 and gained viral success after rapper Killer Mike tweeted about his pizza. Foster also recently joined an Eater and Punch Pre-Shift panel and spoke on what it takes to create a viral food menu. The handmade pies include pizzas topped with lemon pepper wet wings, oxtails, and ricotta. His signature pizzas, the Lemon Pepper Wet and Hot Lemon Pepper Wet, are made using a butter sauce, chopped chicken, and mozzarella, with wings dotting the center.
We churn our own butter, roll our own oats and support a root to leaf ideology, meaning that if an animal dies or a vegetable is harvested for food we will maximise its entire potential, respectfully.
For almost 50 years, streams of people have stepped through the restaurant's towering glass door into its light-filled threshold, where a series of polished wooden steps unfolds, leading to the dining room with its walls of windows and the brass-topped bar where a waterfall gently spills behind rows of neatly shelved bottles. Outside, a two-tiered deck overlooks the Tahoe City Marina and, beyond the boat slips, a panoramic view of Lake Tahoe.
"This isn't an easy post to write," the statement reads. First and foremost, thank you. Thank you for showing up for us. Thank you for being part of our family since 1992. "Thank you for helping us build something special here in Atlanta, a place where good food, good people, and good vibes met for 33 unforgettable years ... If you ever sat down for a meal here, pulled up with your people, or stopped by for a jerk chicken to go, we'd love to see you one last time."
Celebrity chef Rick Stein will close his Marlborough restaurant this weekend, the second outlet to shut in a week as his family-run hospitality empire battles mounting financial pressure. The High Street site, which opened almost a decade ago, will serve its last meals on Sunday, October 5. The closure follows the permanent shutdown of Stein's Coffee Shop in Padstow, Cornwall, where three staff were redeployed.
The restaurant, which served dishes like pasta and cuts of steak, opened in March at the Cambria Hotel in South Boston. The rooftop, which focused more on elevated bar snacks and cocktails, opened a few months later. The concepts were from Kristin Jenkins, who also owns the restaurant 1928 Beacon Hill. Issues with Southie residents started shortly after the restaurant opened, with neighbors expressing opposition to noise from music and events at an April abutter's meeting.
Less than two weeks after the Limani group closed its Italian restaurant, Carpaccio, at the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station, it also shuttered the Woodbury venue, Limani Taverna. A sign posted to the front door said that the last dinner was on Sept. 28, thanked customers for "being part of our story" and directing them to "sister locations in Roslyn and Commack." The restaurant's owners could not immediately be reached for comment.
After a 20-year run, Izzy's on the Peninsula - a San Carlos restaurant known for its steaks, chops and seafood - will shut down after the last dinner is served Oct. 4. "We're grateful for every memory and invite you to join us for one last meal before we close this chapter," the DuVall Family Restaurant Group announced on the website. "Our flagship restaurant in San Francisco will continue welcoming you for many years to come."
The closing is bittersweet for the Billings. Sharon Billings told local news outlet the Independent that the decision was not financially motivated; it was simply time to move on. The Billings plan to use the newfound time to go on vacation, spend time with family and even play pickleball, she said. Matt Billings told Pleasanton Weekly that he and his wife were not retiring, but rather they were in "recovery time" and that a new venture could be on the horizon someday.
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) -- The bowling alley and restaurant Pinstripes in Walnut Creek has unexpectedly closed. It first opened on Main Street less than one year ago. The sign outside the location today says it is permanently closed. The business took to social media saying the company is voluntarily filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and closing some locations. Copyright © 2025 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved. Top Stories
Chicken G's, at 346 Kearny St., closed Thursday following a routine inspection by the San Francisco Department of Public Health after rodent droppings were seen throughout the restaurant space. According to a report reviewed by SFGATE, rodent droppings were spotted on the kitchen floor, under beverage dispensers, on flour bags in the basement and in other areas of the restaurant.
"It became obvious with our partners that the level of business was not sustainable," Levine told San José Spotlight. "We tried multiple pivots over the last nine months in terms of dining room layout, menus, etc. and just didn't find a formula that connected with guests."
Owner and fromage expert Liana Ryan announced the news "with a mix of gratitude and sadness" in her email newsletter. "Over the years, it has been our profound pleasure to share our passion for exceptional cheeses, fine wines and memorable moments with you," she wrote. "Your support has meant the world to us, and we are so grateful for the community you helped us build around our humble shop."
"If you're in any business that involves the sale of goods and services, one of the sacrosanct things you have to do is report accurately and timely your sales and remit your sales tax. We fell behind."
"After 52 years at 68 Greenwich Avenue, the beloved West Village café will serve its last brunch service on August 17, closing for good after more than five decades of omelets, burgers and low-key celebrity sightings."
"This love and these rallying cries from the LA community have been so heartfelt during this difficult time -- it's not only extremely appreciated, but truly eye-opening that, with enough noise and enough fight, change can actually be made."
The chef told the influencer she did not have enough followers, and that the ones she did have 'are not the kind of people that are going to be at his restaurant.'
