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Jimtown Store, Healdsburg: Memories of this gourmet grocer stretch back to my early 20s, when a young Midwestern me stood awed at the artisan foods, antiques and other goodies curated by Carrie Brown and her late husband John Werner. It was an Alexander Valley treasure for decades, and the closure came as a shock and surprise to many of us. (Jeff Kan Lee)
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Bear Republic, Healdsburg: Another surprise closure, this longtime Healdsburg burger and beer restaurant shuttered after building and lease issues. (Christopher Chung)
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West Handmade Burgers, Sonoma: It was a short run for this Sonoma burger spot Garrett Sathre and his wife Nicole Benjamin opened in April. A long build-out, stymied by endless permitting, made for a rough start, and though popular, it couldn’t overcome the obstacles. (Robbi Pengelly)
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Stout Brothers, Santa Rosa: After years of trying to keep this Irish pub afloat, Chandi Hospitality Group decided to pull the plug in November. The family-owned operation also closed their Third Street pasta eatery, Mercato. (Courtesy photo)
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La Vera, Santa Rosa: This pizza institution threw in the towel after more than 30 years. Owners Ric and Sue Kade said they were ready to retire. (Heather Irwin)
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Tex Wasabi’s, Santa Rosa: I admit being gobsmacked by the coolness of this former Guy Fieri-owned restaurant in Santa Rosa. Hey, in 2003 when I arrived here, it was a nifty place to hang out and I’m not ashamed to admit I met my husband there (OK, a little ashamed). Though I hadn’t been back in more than a decade, the closure ended a chapter of Sonoma County history — at least for me. (Alvin Jornada)
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Mercato, Santa Rosa: Opened at roughly the same time as Chandi Hospitality Group’s Bollywood restaurant, the homemade pasta concept in downtown Santa Rosa never really took off, despite a full bar. (Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Metro Chamber of Commerce)
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East Wind Bakery, Santa Rosa: A truly unique bakery featuring Asian-inspired treats and lunch fare. Its owners decided to retire. (Courtesy photo)
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Thai Time, Santa Rosa: It was mostly an office-lunch fave for downtown Santa Rosa workers, but I still miss the Rama The King spinach and broccoli with peanut sauce at this hole-in-the-wall Thai spot. (Heather Irwin)
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Gator’s, Petaluma: A burger and Southern fare restaurant offshoot of a popular food truck. The food was okay, but competition in the Theater Square area is intense. (John Burgess)
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Crocodile Cafe, Petaluma: A cute and cozy French bistro with delicious food that I’m sad didn’t make it. Another Theater Square closure. (Heather Irwin)
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Lowell’s, Sebastopol: After it made my list of best restaurants of 2018, Lowell’s announced that they’d be packing it in this fall. I loved their eclectic menu of locally-sourced ingredients, and owner Lowell Sheldon has been a pioneer in the Sebastopol food scene.
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Pamposh, Santa Rosa: A small, family-run Indian restaurant that was a neighborhood favorite. We loved their California-inspired dishes. (Conner Jay)
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Harvest Moon Cafe, Sonoma: A longtime Sonoma cafe owned by Nick and Jen Demarest sold in July. The couple recently opened a Sonoma bakery called Baker & Cook. (John Burgess)
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Mint & Liberty, Sonoma: A short-timer in Sonoma, with a diverse diner menu. Replaced by Picazo Restaurant. (Courtesy photo)
Thank you for putting together a thoughtful piece with a good list of restaurants that packed it in.
The Mercato was in a hard-to-succeed spot, and had been Bibi’s, Something else, Swensons or something else. It’s in a “bummy spot” of downtown with the “B” level movie theater next door, and the o.k. but not as well known beer spot across the way with a more “accessible” menu for a broader range of drinking families.
LaVera was a great place, and had a successful run that just ended naturally. Good for them. When looking a restaurant finances/planning, I would also suggest that success meaning getting back opening costs, plus return on investment within the time period of the locked in lease rate. They did great in that spot for a long time.
Chandi’s Bollywood is a gem; and I hope the new hotel draws big for them.
The downtown area is experiencing desperate street people with increasing frequency. If guests from the City stop in Petaluma, they don’t as much of that. And in Sebastopol or Healdsburg, there is much, much less street people impact. I’m not just talking about “shelter less,” as that is a problem with many subsets; It’s about harder edged people making downtown a place in which you should keep your guard up. Would you rather wait ten minutes for an Uber after having four glasses of $14 wine in Santa Rosa, Healdsburg or Sebastopol?
California isn’t a business friendly state, or a citizen friendly state for that matter. Over regulation creates astronomical costs for living or doing business. But hey, keep voting democrat/socialist and everything will be peachy.
And keep voting Republican if you want those peaches coated with harmful pesticide residue (http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/food.jsp?food=PC), your pork contaminated by feces (https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/12/18/1906410/-New-Trump-rule-allows-feces-sex-organs-toenails-unwanted-hair-into-pork-products-NBC-news), your air filthy, your investment advisers fraudulent, etc. etc.
The cost of living in our location is way too high for the workers and the rent too high for the owners.. We are pricing all of our much loved people out of town.
The fact that less and less tourist comes into the bay area doesn’t help either.
Years ago I asked the owner of Cattlemens how he made a million dollars in the restaurant business. He said “start with two million”
It is a tough business to be in. You have to have wads of money to spend and pray that you get all the things involved perfect and that you have a loyal following.