2018 in review: 16 most notable restaurant closings in East Valley

El Palacio Mexican Restaurant & Cantina: Just four days after appearing the Food Network’s ‘‘Chopped,’’ owner-chef Anthony Serrano is forced to close his eight-year-old restaurant on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Germann in Chandler. (January)

Happy Joe’s Pizza: Undersized Gilbert franchise of the popular Midwest chain, which claimed to invent the taco pizza, closes after two-and-a-half years in business just east of Gilbert and Warner. (January)

Los Dos Molinos: Under different ownership than the Valley’s other Los Dos restaurants and already operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since 2017, the struggling Ahwatukee location on the southeast corner of 48th Street and Warner closes after seven years. (April)

Prankster’s Gar & Brill: Popular hangout for ASU students and neighborhood types for 33 years closes its doors on the northeast corner of Rural and Broadway in Tempe, four months after the closing of its Scottsdale location. (May)

JP Pancake: Breakfast and lunch restaurant, famous for its massive oven-baked apple pancakes, closes after nine years on the southeast corner of Val Vista and Baseline in Gilbert. (May)

Buono’s Pizza: Southwest Mesa pizzeria known for its authentic New York-style pies closed after 30 years on the southwest corner of Dobson and Guadalupe, but a former owner is planning to reopen it in 2019. (June)

Iowa Cafe: The popular northeast Mesa dining destination for more than 30 years – known for its loose-meat sandwiches, pork tenderloin sandwiches, and massive pies – announces its summer closure on the southeast corner of Higley and Brown will be permanent. (June)

Pizza a Metro: Well-regarded Italian restaurant in Phoenix closes its 4-year-old second location on the southwest corner of Greenfield and Warner in Gilbert. (July)

Bush’s Chicken: Texas-based chain known for its marinated fried chicken, iced tea, and three-lane drive-throughs serviced by carhops lasts just 14 months on the southeast corner of Val Vista and Williams Field in Gilbert. (July)

Wimpy’s Paradise: Randy Walters’ beloved burger and hot dog joint in downtown Chandler, a sibling/successor to Pittsburgh Willy’s, ends a decade-long run of pierogis, Steelers games, and free hugs. (September)

Steak and Stone: Steakhouse and BBQ restaurant, where diners cooked steaks on a 500-degree stone at their table, closes after just a year at Gilbert Town Square on Gilbert Road between Warner and Ray. Its northeast Mesa location remains open. (October)

Sharky’s Tacos & Tequila: Mexican restaurant and cantina closes its 2-year-old location on the southeast corner of Hardy and Baseline in south Tempe, and soon shuts down its other on the northwest corner of Lindsay and University in east Mesa. (October)

Ice Cream Sammies: Two-and-a-half-year-old dessert shop in downtown Chandler closes after a well-publicized lease dispute with its landlord on Boston, about a block west of Arizona, in downtown Chandler. (October)

Hangar 9 Bar & Grille: Neighborhood hangout closes after three years on the northwest corner of McQueen and Pecos in Chandler. (November)

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom: National chain’s last remaining East Valley location shuts down after 16 years on the southwest corner of Alma School and U.S. 60 in southwest Mesa, but a new franchisee is opening a location in Chandler in 2019. (December)

Jimmy T’s Holy Crab: After a buildout that took more than 18 months, this seafood and sports bar concept on the northwest corner of Alma School and Ray in Chandler closes after just eight months. (December)