Category: Say Goodbye

(UPDATE: Howler’s has responded to this post: ‘‘We are not closed permanently and will reopen in the next couple of weeks after remodeling the space and hiring enough staff to make the restaurant run effectively. This will probably be the

La Hacienda, a neighborhood Mexican restaurant on the southwest corner of Dobson and Chandler in Chandler, has closed after four years.

Utah-based bakery Twisted Sugar has closed its year-old location on the northwest corner of Cooper and Warner in Gilbert after being locked out by the strip mall’s landlord. The food: Twisted Sugar’s menu features 20 flavors of cookies daily plus more

Four-year-old sports bar and neighborhood grill Copper Still Moonshine Grill in west Chandler announced it will close permanently on Sunday, Aug. 22. The Gilbert location will not be affected. The history: Copper Still debuted near the southeast corner of Gilbert

Grubstak, an unusual concept that offered a variety of poutine-like dishes, closed Sunday after two and a half years on the southeast corner of Gilbert and Ocotillo in south Chandler. The eatery was the brainchild of Colton Grubb, the grandson

Keegan’s Grill, an Ahwatukee mainstay for more than 25 years, announced it will close permanently June 30. According to the statement, ‘‘Due to a very rough 16 months with covid-19 disrupting our business along with rising operating costs we have

Schmear Bagelry & Cafe, Queen Creek’s first bagel shop, announced it will close Saturday after two years in business. Owners Matt and Lindsay Aronson shared the news on social media: ‘‘There are many factors that have contributed to this decision,’’

After 33 years of dishing out some of the Valley’s best New York-style pizzas, Vic Buono is calling it quits. Buono announced Tuesday night on social media he will retire after closing his Nicantoni’s Pizza in Gilbert on Sunday, May

Bandera, a restaurant popular for its rotisserie chicken and American comfort food, has closed after for nearly three decades in Old Town Scottsdale. Located on the northeast corner of Scottsdale Road and First Avenue, it was one of 40-some restaurants

It’s official: Rula Bula Irish Pub, a downtown Tempe mainstay for 20 years, will close this Sunday, May 23. MXSW reported last month the restaurant and bar was almost certain to close before the end of June after it was unable

Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant closed its 15-year-old location on the southwest corner of Arizona and Ocotillo in south Chandler on Sunday. The Geneva, N.Y.-based chain now has three remaining locations in the East Valley – University and Gilbert in north Mesa,

Rancho La Candelaria Mexican Food & Oaxacan Food, a well-reviewed restaurant on the southeast corner of Baseline and 35th Avenue in southwest Phoenix, was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning. The restaurant’s two food trucks also were lost in the

Is the so-called ‘‘Asian Corridor’’ through Mesa and Chandler finally reaching a saturation point? Four-year-old Korea Mart, citing increased competition, is closing. The shopping center opened in the Three Fountains Plaza on Longmore south of Southern – just west of

Award-winning chef Nobuo Fukuda finally has confirmed what many have feared: His acclaimed Nobuo at Teeter House, closed by the covid-19 pandemic since March 2020, will not reopen. Fukuda, who was named Best Chef Southwest in the 2007 James Beard

Chandler-based AZ Bitters Lab, the state’s first research and production lab for handcrafted cocktail bitters and flavor extracts, has stopped production after eight years. The company’s popular bitters included cirtusy Orange Sunshine, spiced Figgy Pudding, and chocolatey Mas Mole. They

Rancho Pinot, one of the Arizona’s most acclaimed restaurants, is closing May 15 after 27 years. Owner-chef Chrysa Robertson made the announcement over the weekend on the Scottsdale restaurant’s social media and website. ‘‘I have been at this place called

The experimental virtual version of Flower Child, which opened in January near downtown Tempe, already has been shut down. The ‘‘ghost kitchen’’ offered delivery and takeout only out of the kitchen at Fox Restaurant Concepts sibling Culinary Dropout on the

After 22 major-league seasons and one World Series championship, TGI Fridays Front Row Sports Grill at Chase Field is retiring. The restaurant and bar, which overlooks left field, saw its 2020 opening delayed and ultimately was limited to takeout while

Hot Noodles Cold Sake, chef Josh Hebert’s north Scottsdale ramen shop, will close next Saturday, March 27, after nearly five years in business. The eatery was a spinoff of a popular ramen night Hebert (pictured) held at his former improvisational

The East Valley’s premier soul food destination, family-run Ezekial’s Restaurant in Ahwatukee, has closed after eight years. ‘‘Chef Brad’s health is at risk and we have decided as a family that it is best to close the restaurant for good,’’

Cotton & Copper, one of the Valley’s most acclaimed restaurants, is the latest victim of the covid-19 pandemic. ‘‘The last year has been a true struggle,’’ the 2-year-old south Tempe gastropub posted on social media Wednesday night. ‘‘The persistence of

The G.O.A.T. Sports Grill, which opened in June near the southwest corner of Power and McDowell in northeast Mesa, has closed. What’s next? The venue’s social media updates indicate at least one the owners, Scott McKay, is trying to reopen

Byblos Restaurant, a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean eatery near the southwest corner of Mill and Southern in Tempe, has closed after 36 years. The announcement: Jamale Mirza, who co-owned the restaurant with her brother Samir (both pictured), made the announcement

JC’s Steakhouse, one of the East Valley’s few locally owned steakhouses, is closing at the end of this month after six years in business in Gilbert. TC’s Pub & Grub in Queen Creek has purchased the restaurant near the southeast

Kavala Restaurant & Cafe, which combined two popular Mediterranean cuisines ‘‘by cooking Greek dishes the Italian way,’’ has closed on the southeast corner of McQueen and Elliot in northwest Gilbert after just six months in business. No announcement was made,

Those who read MXSW’s big scoop last month already knew Buddyz Pizzeria was shutting down its 4-year-old Gilbert location before the end of this year. Now we have the date: Sunday, Dec. 13. The announcement: ‘‘Due to the decrease in

Sherpa Kitchen, the Valley’s first Nepali restaurant that opened in Gilbert in January, is closing Nov. 22, owners Chandra and Subash Yadav announced on social media. ‘‘Since COVID19 started, the hospitality industry has been through a tornado of change, which

The coronavirus pandemic continues to hit Tucson especially hard. Two weeks after owner Suzana Davila closed the city’s iconic Café Poca Cosa, legendary chef Janos Wilder has permanently shut down his Downtown Kitchen & Cocktails. Wilder, a former James Beard

Chzburgr, an acclaimed chef-driven burger joint on the northwest corner of 49th Avenue and Thunderbird in Glendale, has closed after a little more than a year in business. Chef-owner Kelly Fletcher made the announcement Monday on social media: ‘‘It is

Just 12 days ago, I wrote about the opening of The Pizza Experience, a chef-driven concept promising “no more boring pizza,’’ on the southeast corner of Lindsay and Warner in Gilbert. Sadly, it appears the restaurant has closed after less

Café Poca Cosa, one of Tucson’s most celebrated restaurants, is closing permanently after 36 years due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, according to chef-owner Suzana Davila. “We just do not see a profitable way of continuing,” says Davila, who opened

The Ivy, a 5-year-old Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar on the northeast corner of Dobson and Germann in Chandler, has closed. ‘‘Like any business, we have faced our fair share of challenges, yet we have always found a way to

Add Phoenix Public Market Cafe in downtown Phoenix to the growing list of Valley restaurants permanently closed by the covid-19 pandemic. The restaurant, which opened in 2013, had been temporarily closed since March. Owner-chef Aaron Chamberlain says the pandemic has

Growler USA, an American-style pub at High Street in northeast Phoenix, has closed after four years. Signage posted on the building says the business was locked out by its landlord. In addition to 100 craft beers on tap, Growler USA

Chandler’s Desert Cider House, Arizona’s oldest operating craft cidery, has closed after four years. The cidery cited the covid-19 pandemic as the reason. According to its social media post: ‘‘With a great deal of consideration and deliberation, and in light

Coconut’s Fish Cafe, a Hawaii-based fast-casual seafood chain, has permanently closed its location on the southwest corner of Alma School and Ocotillo in south Chandler. The eatery, which opened in 2016, had closed in March when the covid-19 pandemic hit

La Calabria Ristorante, a well-loved but ill-fated Italian restaurant in Gilbert, has closed permanently after 10 years in business. Giovanni and Clara Spataro launched La Calabria, named for Giovanni’s home region in Italy, in 2008. He was the chef; she

Americana Burgers & Beer, a popular ASU student hangout in downtown Tempe, has closed permanently. The bar and grill opened in January 2018 near the northwest corner of Mill and Fourth Street.

Majerle’s Sports Grill, launched by and named for former Phoenix Suns star Dan Majerle, has closed its Chandler Fashion Center location after 13 years. Howler’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, which recently debuted in Gilbert, will take over the building in

Farmboy Market, Meats & Sandwiches in south Chandler is the latest East Valley restaurant to succumb to covid-19. The scratch-kitchen smokehouse temporarily closed four weeks ago to wait out the pandemic. Now, though, owner Oren Molovinsky says Farmboy is closed

La Bocca Urban Kitchen & Wine Bar has closed its two remaining Valley locations – the original in downtown Tempe and another at High Street in northeast Phoenix. A third location in downtown Chandler closed after a 2017 fire. La

Oink Cafe, a local breakfast-and-lunch eatery that opened in December 2016, has closed on the southwest corner of McClintock and Warner in south Tempe. Two other locations – in Paradise Valley and Tucson – remain open. Oink Cafe is best

After two unsuccessful months of trying to get financial concessions from its landlord, The Harp Irish Pub has been locked out of its Dana Park space on the northwest corner of Val Vista and Baseline in Mesa. A post on

McMahon’s Ice Cream, the 3-year-old family-run dessert shop on the northwest corner of McQueen and Warner in Chandler, will permanently close at the end of this month. The shop made the announcement on social media: ‘‘We hope you visit us

Blue Adobe Santa Fe Grille has permanently closed its 17-month-old Gilbert location on the northeast corner of Lindsay and Williams Field. The restaurant had been closed since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The original Blue Adobe made its debut

Mexican restaurant and patio bar Dos Gringos has permanently closed its Chandler location, the latest blow for the once-popular East Valley chain. The laid-back cantina, located on Alma School halfway between Warner and Ray, had been temporarily closed since March

Sweet Tomatoes, a San Diego-based chain of soup and salad bars, is permanently closing its 97 restaurants nationwide, including three in the East Valley, due to coronavirus. New guidelines from the FDA are forcing restaurants to discontinue all forms of

El Zocalo Mexican Grille, a fixture in downtown Chandler for two decades, has closed. Owners Obed and Pam de la Cruz made the announcement Tuesday on Facebook: ‘‘We are sad to announce this chapter has come to an end. El

Tempe-based Four Peaks Brewing has permanently closed its Grill & Tap location in Scottsdale after 16 years. The brewery, which was bought by Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2015, said the closure was not due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The location served

Teakwoods Tavern & Grill, a neighborhood hangout best known for its baskets of free peanuts, has closed its flagship Chandler location after 25 years. Notices posted at the restaurant on the southeast corner of Ray and Kyrene indicate it was

Chef-owner Silvana Salcido Esparza announced the permanent closure of acclaimed Barrio Cafe Grand Reserva in Phoenix over the weekend. The move was necessary, she says, to save her flagship restaurant Barrio Cafe during the coronavirus pandemic. ‘‘Hard decision but we

Mark’s Cafe, one of Tempe’s most beloved small restaurants, has closed permanently after 16 years. Owner and chef  Mark Vojtek and his wife, Karen, made the announcement on social media: The restaurant, which began life in 2003 as Culinary Solutions

Ella’s Cuisine, a restaurant specializing in French cuisine that opened in southwest Mesa in November 2018, has closed. It had taken over the building that was the longtime home of Pink Pepper Thai Cuisine on the southeast corner of Dobson and

Creole Cajun Bistro, a family-run Southern-style restaurant on the southwest corner of Gilbert and Chandler Heights in south Chandler, has closed after five years in business. Owner Eric Rachal made the announcement on social media: ‘‘After 5 long years, we

Gordon Biersch, a national chain of brewery restaurants offering elevated pub fare and German-style beers, abruptly closed its 13-year-old location at SanTan Village in Gilbert over the weekend. The chain’s only other Arizona location in Glendale also was closed. A

La Patrona Mexican Cuisine, a 9-month-old family-run restaurant east of downtown Mesa, was destroyed in a massive fire overnight. The restaurant was on the north side of Main Street, about halfway between Stapley and Gilbert, in a freestanding building that formerly

Tempe Public Market Cafe, a casual neighborhood hangout offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, has closed after two years. According to its social media post: ‘‘This was not an easy decision and we cannot express our gratitude for every person that

iPic, a Florida-based chain of dine-in movie theaters that debuted in Scottsdale in 2010, announced it will close its only Arizona location at the Scottsdale Quarter on Thursday, Jan. 30. The luxury theaters offer a full menu of appetizers, entrees,

Upscale Mexican restaurant Cantina Laredo closed its only Arizona location over the weekend after 12 years at SanTan Village in Gilbert. The Dallas-based chain gave no reason for the shutdown. The move follows the closing of another longtime SanTan Village

Mother Bunch Brewing, which opened in 2014 on the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Garfield in downtown Phoenix, has closed. Owner Julie Meeker made the announcement on Facebook: It is with deep sadness, but also with deep gratitude, that

Condesa, a new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in downtown Phoenix, has closed just four weeks after opening. The 12,000-square-foot concept had taken over the former Tom’s Tavern, plus a couple other neighboring spaces, on the northeast corner of First Avenue and Washington.

PDQ, a Florida-based fast-food chain specializing in chicken tenders and chicken nuggets, has closed its two Valley locations. The closures come in the wake of increased competition from chains like Popeye’s and McDonald’s that have turned their focus to chicken

Hard Rock Cafe, the international chain of rock ’n’ roll themed eateries that arrived in the Valley in 1995, will close its downtown Phoenix location when its lease runs out Feb. 28. The concept – part restaurant and bar, part

Surprise announcement from Macayo’s Mexican restaurants this afternoon: Its iconic midtown Phoenix restaurant, known as Woody’s Macayo, will close its doors tonight after 67 years. Founders Woody and Victoria Johnson opened Woody’s Macayo on Central Avenue south of Indian School

Las Palmas Cantina, which specializes in Mexican street-style seafood, closes its doors with a New Year’s Eve Farewell Fan Party tonight in downtown Chandler. The 19-month-old restaurant and bar will offer half-price food and drink from 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Owner

Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que, a Minnesota-based chain offering hickory-smoked ribs and other meats, has closed its restaurant at SanTan Village shopping center in Gilbert after nine years. Local franchisee John Erlandson launched the 6,200-square-foot restaurant in April 2010, adding it to

B2 Burgers & Brews, a Chandler concept offering a dozen specialty burgers and 20 beers on tap, will close its doors for good Sunday. The restaurant opened in September 2017 in a strip mall on Warner, just west of Arizona,

Tee Pee Tap Room, a Mexican restaurant behind Chase Field in downtown Phoenix, has abruptly closed its doors after 21 years. According to a notice posted on the door: ‘‘Tee Pee Tap Room will be permanently closing on Thursday, Dec.

Pizzeria and wine bar Grazie, a popular date night spot in Old Town Scottsdale, is closing after 18 years, but there’s some good news. Acclaimed chef Gio Osso of nearby Virtù is taking over the building near the northwest corner

The Cellar Pub, one of the hidden gems of the Valley’s craft beer and wine scene, has closed in downtown Mesa. The small bar and lounge was nestled among the storage shelves in the basement of Sun Devil Liquors near

Cartwright’s Modern Cuisine, one the Valley’s dwindling number of fine-dining restaurants, has closed in Cave Creek after 19 years in business. Restaurateurs Eric Flatt and John Malcolm sold the rustic, 175-seat restaurant to two employees – general manager Cody Heller

Odelay Bagel Co., a shop that specialized in handmade bagels and locally roasted coffees, has closed after four-plus years on the southwest corner of the Elliot-Warner Loop and Equestrian Trail in Ahwatukee. Owner Ryan Probst made the announcement on social

College Bar & Grill, whose location across the street from Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe made it a a popular hangout for ASU football fans, abruptly has closed its doors after less than two years. Grady Gammage Jr., the owner

Angry Crab Shack, a Mesa-based chain specializing in seafood and boils with Asian and Cajun flavors, has closed its Ahwatukee location. The restaurant, located on northeast corner of Ranch Circle and Ray, opened in 2015. “We’re sad to announce that

Rosati’s Pizza, which has abruptly closed several Valley locations recently, has now shut down its original Arizona location on the northwest corner of McClintock and Warner in south Tempe. The family-owned pizzeria chain, which began in Chicago, made its Arizona

Chicago-based Giordano’s Pizza has closed its Paradise Valley location on the northeast corner of Tatum and Cactus after just 15 months. Giordano’s arrived in Arizona in 2016 as part of a wave of iconic Chicago pizzerias that also included Lou

Caketini, a custom cake shop offering cakes, cupcakes, and truffles, is closing after nine years at SanTan Village shopping center in Gilbert. The business intends to keep offering custom orders, deliveries, corporate orders, and event catering through its website. ‘‘This

Is it just me or does any restaurant that opens on 16th Street in Phoenix seem to have only a 50-50 chance to last six months? The latest casualty is Brat Haus, which announced its closure on Facebook just four

Rosati’s Pizza in Chandler has been locked out by its strip-mall landlord for defaulting on its lease, according to a notice posted on the door today. It’s the second time the Chicago-style pizzeria abruptly has shut down this month. It

Donut Bar, a San Diego-based concept that combines a doughnut shop with a bar, has closed its only Arizona location. ‘‘We fell in love with the brand over four years ago and decided this was the next venture we wanted

La Casa de Juana, a 3-year-old Mexican restaurant in Mesa, has closed on Southern, just east of Dobson, in west Mesa. It was the locally owned restaurant’s second location. The original, which opened on the southeast corner of McClintock and

Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, a California-based chain of frozen yogurt shops, has closed its store on the southeast corner of Gilbert Road and the Loop 202 in Gilbert. The store had an average 4.5-star rating on Yelp, but apparently couldn’t attract

Village Inn has closed two of its Mesa locations – on the northeast corner of Stapley and Baseline and the southeast corner of Power and Main. “After very careful consideration, we have made the tough but necessary decision to discontinue

Quartiere, a neighborhood Italian restaurant that opened on Mill Avenue halfway between Broadway and Southern in November 2017, will close its doors at 11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. According to a notice posted on the restaurant’s website: ‘‘We have wrestled

The one constant on Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe is change. Restaurants come, restaurants go. The latest is the latter category is NYPD Pizza, which has closed in the Tempe Gateway building on the northwest corner of Mill and Third

Crisp Greens, a salad and wraps eatery in downtown Chandler, is closing its doors today after four and a half years in business. Owners Brandon Fisher and Darron Moffatt moved into the former Planet Sub on Arizona Avenue just south

The Melting Pot has announced it will close its 22-year-old Scottsdale fondue restaurant on the northwest corner of Hayden and Via de Ventura on Monday, Sept. 30. ‘‘This closure is strictly a carefully planned and weighed business decision,’’ the restaurant

Toh Zan Nagasaki Grill, a family-run Japanese restaurant on the northwest corner of Dobson and Southern in west Mesa, is closing after 36 years. Owners Yoshito and Yuko Eguchi made the announcement on Facebook: We are very saddened to announce

Burros & Bowls, a fast-casual Mexican eatery that opened in downtown Mesa in May to rave reviews, has closed after less than three months. It becomes the latest in a growing list of restaurants that have failed in the former

Tacos Tequila Whiskey, a Denver-based chain that opened on the northwest corner of 40th Street and Indian School in east Phoenix in 2017, has closed its first and only Arizona location. Owner and chef Kevin Morrison (who previously co-founded Spicy Pickle sub

Restaurant Mexico, a downtown Tempe favorite for more than four decades, is closing its doors for good on Thursday, Aug. 15. The no-frills cafe, which built its reputation serving good but inexpensive tacos, enchiladas, and beans, is one of the

Bar Pesce, chef Cullen Campbell’s highly regarded Phoenix restaurant that originally was known as Crudo, will close next Tuesday, July 30, after more than seven years in business. “It’s bittersweet to close Bar Pesce after seven years, but it was

Colorado-based Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant has closed after 19 years on the northwest corner of Mill and Fifth in downtown Tempe. The second-floor brewpub, whose patio was a prime perch for watching activities on Mill, offered pub fare and German-style

Less than a month after closing its original location in Chandler, Porkopolis announced its remaining location in Scottsdale will close tomorrow – Friday, July 12. Porkopolis announced the closure on Facebook this morning: It’s a sad day, Porko Fans. We’ll be serving

Pig & Pickle, one of the Valley’s top gastropubs, has closed after nearly seven years on the northwest corner of Hayden and Thomas in Scottsdale. No explanation is posted on the Pig & Pickle’s website or social media accounts, but

Boston Market, a Colorado-based chain of fast-casual American comfort food restaurants, has closed its location on the northeast corner of McClintock and Elliot in south Tempe. The closure leaves the chain with just three locations in the East Valley, including

The Novelist, a speakeasy-style restaurant and bar tucked inside OHSO Brewery in downtown Gilbert, will close Monday, July 1. The space will be converted into Barrel Room, a venue for large private parties. The Novelist opened in May 2018, a