The notable Philly-area restaurant closings of 2024

Good news: 2024 was a banner year for restaurant openings in the Philadelphia area.

Bad news: 2024 also was a sobering year for restaurant closings. In many cases, the restaurateurs said they were tired of fluctuating prices and keeping up with the vagaries of operating. Burnout is endemic.

Good news: Some spaces didn’t stay vacant for too long. Also, some restaurateurs actually kept going by shifting their brick-and-mortar locations to delivery via so-called ghost kitchens.

Here is a recap of the shutdowns:

The family behind Alma Del Mar, a Mexican seafood restaurant seen on the show Queer Eye, cited crime and stress for its shutdown after four years in the Italian Market. A fast-casual eatery called Space Smash opened this month at 1007 S. Ninth St.

Autana, the acclaimed Venezuelan BYOB, left its home at 4 Station Ave. in Ardmore after four years after the Hernández family and the landlord could not come to terms. Autana is now a ghost kitchen operating out of North Philadelphia.

Azie on Main’s 15-year run in Villanova is over. The Somboonsong family is prepping two new restaurants in Wayne: Maison Lotus in the former Margaret Kuo space as well as Mama San Sushi in a former Buena Onda.

Bark Social Club, a dog park/bar in Manayunk, shut down abruptly as the entire chain filed for bankruptcy protection.

Bing Bing Dim Sum bowed out before the landlord commenced extensive repairs to its building on East Passyunk Avenue.

Bistrot La Minette’s nearly 16-year run at 623 S. Sixth St. ended over the summer as chef-owner Peter Woolsey felt it was time. He will become executive chef of a new restaurant in Bucks County.

Black N Brew, a once-popular coffee shop on East Passyunk Avenue at Cross Street, fell behind in rent, according to public records.

Black Squirrel Pub & Haunt at 3749 Midvale Ave. in East Falls closed as the building owner decided to sell the bricks.

Bomb Bomb BBQ Grill & Italian Restaurant at 1026 Wolf St. in South Philadelphia closed as owners Frank and Deb Barbato retired; it’s likely to reopen under new management.

Brick & Barrel Taphouse at 870 Welsh Rd. in Maple Glen closed after nine years with no public explanation given.

Cafe Ynez ended its 10-year stint at 2025 Washington Ave., as it was a subtenant of NextFab, the collaborative maker space, which consolidated in North Philadelphia.

Chart House at Penn’s Landing shut down after 40 years, and its corporate owners cited construction nearby.

Cheu Fishtown, a sibling of Bing Bing Dim Sum, closed at 1416 Frankford Ave. in Fishtown after seven years as its lease expired and its building was sold; owners Shawn Darragh and Ben Puchowitz are said to be planning something new in 2025.

Chima, the Brazilian steak house chain in the Kennedy House on JFK Boulevard, bowed out after 15 years, and the local NaBrasa moved right in.

Chuck Lager America’s Tavern at 270 White Horse Pike in Barrington shut down after four years. One owner told the Courier-Post that it was the economy.

The owner of Cockatoo, the two-story cocktail bar and restaurant at 208 S. 13th St. in Washington Square West, mentioned the financial strain put on the business due to COVID-19.

D&S Subs at 305 S. White Horse Pike in Winslow Township packed it in after 42 years. “My to-do list has a to-do list,” the owner told The Inquirer.

Dan’s Meats, a corner grocery at Frankford Avenue and Norris Street in Fishtown that dished a mean hoagie, called it quits with the retirement of owner Dan Tocci Jr. He started working there for his father in 1949.

De La Terre at 47. W Lancaster Ave. in Downingtown shut down after about a year and a half, and it’s now Myrtos, a Mediterranean BYOB.

Devon Seafood Grill on Rittenhouse Square will close over New Year’s after 25 years.

Diamond Diner at 1390 Route 38 East in Hainesport joined a parade of shuttered New Jersey diners. It’s now a branch of Pandora Diner.

Dockside Bensalem at 1067 Totem Rd. closed abruptly; the owner cited finances.

Effie’s in Washington Square West closed with owner Effie Bouikidis’ retirement. Chibanos, specializing in pressed sandwiches, is on its way to 1127 Pine St.

Far East Descendant, a stylish Cantonese restaurant at 251 N. Clarion St., bowed out after three years. It’s now Kirin House, a Japanese restaurant.

Farm & Fisherman’s Horsham Corner location pulled out; its original location in Cherry Hill is still open.

Fiore Rosso in Bryn Mawr Village, a high-end Italian restaurant originally fronted by Marc Vetri, changed hands and reflagged as Il Fiore.

FoodChasers’ Kitchen at 7852 Montgomery Ave. in Elkins Park closed and is now a ghost kitchen delivering out of 3300 Fairmount Ave., in the city’s Mantua section.

Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing Co. at 1940 Olney Ave. in Cherry Hill says it ran into lease issues.

Garces Trading Co. at the Kimmel Center shuttered; a new restaurant is being teed up for the Broad Street space.

Good Dog Bar’s Atlantic City location closed after 15 months; owners cited “insurmountable” challenges.

Hawthornes, the South Philadelphia cafe and bottle shop, will close Jan. 5 after 15 years; a new restaurant is on its way to 11th and Fitzwater Streets.

Hello Donuts & Coffee bowed out of 2557 Amber St. in Kensington after five years; owners cited keen coffee competition in the neighborhood.

Heritage’s nine-year stretch at 914 N. Second St. in Northern Liberties came to a close at the end of its lease; it never recovered from the pandemic, management said.

Honeysuckle Provisions closed its West Philadelphia location at 310 S. 48th St., and it’s moving to 631 N. Broad St. in North Philadelphia as Honeysuckle in spring 2025.

Howl at the Moon in Center City buttoned up after 10 years, and the space at 258 S. 15th St. now houses Cellar Dog.

J. Alexander’s King of Prussia location shut without notice. The upscale chain does not have a nearby location, though it plans to open soon in Clifton, N.J.

Kaiseki, the charming sushi counter at 990 Spring Garden St., closed as owner Andy Bernard said he needed a break.

Kensington Quarters in Fishtown closed after 10 years.

Kopper Kettle Tavern at 1985 Bridgetown Pike in Feasterville, which opened in 1973, announced its closing on Dec. 26, effective immediately. Supposedly, a sale is in the works.

Martha, the Kensington neighborhood bar, closed as ownership said it had run its course after 10 years. New York City’s Pig & Khao will open there in 2025.

Neighborhood Ramen gave up its Queen Village storefront at 617 S. Third St., and it’s now occupied by Scampi. Neighborhood Ramen is operating temporarily nearby at 526 S. Fourth St. as ESO Ramen Workshop.

Nick’s Roast Beef’s location at 4501 Woodhaven Rd. in Northeast Philadelphia closed abruptly for what the owner called financial reasons.

The three OCF Coffee Houses shut down after 13 years. All locations — Fairmount and two in South Philadelphia — have new tenants.

The Olde Bar, the Old City seafood restaurant fronted by chef Jose Garces, is now open only for catered events on the former site of Old Original Bookbinder’s at Second and Walnut Streets.

On Point Bistro at 1200 Point Breeze Ave. in Point Breeze closed after eight years because, as one owner said, “our time has come.”

Pizza Brain, which held down its spot in Kensington for 12 years, closed for various reasons. The storefront at 2313 Frankford Ave. now houses the dessert specialists Cloud Cups and Darnel’s Cakes.

Primary Plant Based, a vegan BYOB, shut down at 161 W. Girard Ave., on the Northern Liberties-South Kensington line. Emmett, a Levantine-Mediterranean restaurant from chef Evan Snyder, Julian van der Tak, and Eli Silins, will fill the spot.

Pumpkin’s nearly 20-year run at 1713 South St. in Graduate Hospital wound down over the summer. Chef Ian Moroney and wife Sharon Thompson-Schill now run a dinner party series called Carl.

South Philly Barbacoa’s corner location in the Italian Market closed as chef Cristina Martinez consolidated her signature barbacoa operation inside Casa Mexico, a few doors north at 1134 S. Ninth St. The corner of Ninth and Ellsworth Streets now houses Fronterizo, an unrelated Mexican-Honduran restaurant.

Star View Diner at 9 S. White Horse Pike in Somerdale shut down, and it’s now a location of Amy’s Omelette House.

Tabu, a gay-friendly sports bar at 254 S. 12th St. in Washington Square West, closed, and its new management has revived it as 254.

Thirsty Dice in the Fairmount area and Twenty One Pips in Ardmore, the related game cafés, closed over what the owner called financial hardship.

Viggiano’s at 16 E. First Ave. in Conshohocken closed after 24 years; the Cape May location is still open.

Volvér, Jose Garces’ main room at the Kimmel Center, closed; a new restaurant is on the way.