Harvey's Bar. It was a bar near my house in Toledo that went out of business in 2004.

There was a Frisch's Big Boy near my house that went out of business 14 or 15 years ago. It was demolished and a CVS was built were it was.

A Wendy's on Glendale Avenue in my part of Toledo. It burned down in January 2014.

In NYC, too many to name. :(

I guess the ones that I miss the most are:

1) The Carnegie Deli - Just no reason for it to close. The most famous deli in the world. The founder's daughter was offered $15 million for it, but wanted to retire and was afraid if she sold it that the quality would go downhill and ruin the name.

2) Mah Jongg Chinese restaurant in my old neighborhood in Brooklyn - The best Cantonese restaurant there ever was. Better than all the famous, insanely expensive Manhattan places. Moved from their small location in Brooklyn to a shopping center where no one could find them.

3) Jing Fong - Legendary dim sum place on Elizabeth Street in Chinatown. Closed due to pandemic. There are others sprinkled around the city as franchises by family members, but they're not the same.

Bob's Big Boy. I always ordered the Big Boy Combo.

Frontier Pies

Pioneer Pies

They both had great food and pies.

Bill Johnson's Big Apple. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was yummy.

The Alcapulco restaurant chain pretty much went out of business. Only one is left I think and it's not near me. There were a few pretty close to me before, they didn't have the best Mexican food, but a bar/ cantina with good margaritas and they were Johnny on the spot if you wanted some Mexican food !

Also sad that a lot of Sizzlers have closed down near me ! :(

I had to give up my a uto about 6 yrs ago but if I still went out to eat:

Souplantation in Brentwood. A great family eating place and so affordable...plandemic did it.

Wahoo's on Wilshire in SM....quality seafood and again very affordable, same reason as above.

So so many great restaurants on the Westside are No More...

I believe CA Pizza Kitchen made it and I'd be going there.

For chain restaurants, I miss Beefsteak Charlie's. I remember going to the one in the lobby of Madison Square Garden.

I also miss Roy Rogers which became other fast food places. The ones near me became Wendy's.

The Hooters in NYC also closed. Now it's 3 locations in NY: Queens, Long Island and Albany.

Here's some of the local or non-franchise places that are no more:



Nanatori


https://usmenuguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/nanatoribrooklyn1.jpg


Never reopened after COVID.
It became a Chinese restaurant - Din Soup Dumplings.






Lenny's Pizza


https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/12/59/c9/7c/lenny-s-pizza.jpg


The famous pizzeria from Saturday Night Fever and one of the last businesses from the film's time to remain open. The owner wanted to retire and the daughter didn't want it.

It became a Korean fried chicken place - Bonchon.






Circles Cafe


https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c2/3d/04/c23d041b573940f4dc6540d33ce640d6.jpg


Owners raised the rent and they moved to a second location briefly. The head chef then died suddenly and the 2nd spot was open for less than six months.

The original location is becoming a School of Rock music school. The 2nd spot became a 2nd hand thrift store.






Anopoli


https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/11/ca/3d/f3/anopoli-ice-cream-parlor.jpg


Was originally a small ice cream parlor going back to the 1800s and different owners managed it in the years since. The most recent owners bought the place in 1995 and decided to close in 2022.

The place is still vacant.






New Corner


https://resizer.otstatic.com/v2/photos/wide-xlarge/1/25791853.png


Family owned Italian restaurant open 84 years that never reopened after COVID.

They were frequently seeked out by Film/TV due to them not really updating the inside since the 1960s. The more recent productions filmed there were the Netflix film The Irishman and the HBO series The Deuce.

It became an Asian-American senior center.






Pad Thai Kitchen


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jz_-8xpcLXYFP3aucdtHPgmROcSMdzFhxsdC0f6EwBsnfg9pfuwU41O8Uve-LF2UKcVaJTqglKD9GMVKFfboKB-UeZYP1VwfkSa163GxHkHA4yNJvo-ApgvWp0sGQ32156rTk0C7zpA/s500/facade+copy.jpg


Small Thai place that stands out among the many other surrounding Chinese restaurants.

This was a recent closing and they have a sign outside saying "New Thai Restaurant Coming Soon!"

Here's some of the local or non-franchise places that are no more:



Nanatori


https://usmenuguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/nanatoribrooklyn1.jpg


Never reopened after COVID.
It became a Chinese restaurant - Din Soup Dumplings.






Lenny's Pizza


https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/12/59/c9/7c/lenny-s-pizza.jpg


The famous pizzeria from Saturday Night Fever and one of the last businesses from the film's time to remain open. The owner wanted to retire and the daughter didn't want it.

It became a Korean fried chicken place - Bonchon.






Circles Cafe


https://i.pinimg.com/736x/c2/3d/04/c23d041b573940f4dc6540d33ce640d6.jpg


Owners raised the rent and they moved to a second location briefly. The head chef then died suddenly and the 2nd spot was open for less than six months.

The original location is becoming a School of Rock music school. The 2nd spot became a 2nd hand thrift store.






Anopoli


https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/11/ca/3d/f3/anopoli-ice-cream-parlor.jpg


Was originally a small ice cream parlor going back to the 1800s and different owners managed it in the years since. The most recent owners bought the place in 1995 and decided to close in 2022.

The place is still vacant.






New Corner


https://resizer.otstatic.com/v2/photos/wide-xlarge/1/25791853.png


Family owned Italian restaurant open 84 years that never reopened after COVID.

They were frequently seeked out by Film/TV due to them not really updating the inside since the 1960s. The more recent productions filmed there were the Netflix film The Irishman and the HBO series The Deuce.

It became an Asian-American senior center.






Pad Thai Kitchen


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jz_-8xpcLXYFP3aucdtHPgmROcSMdzFhxsdC0f6EwBsnfg9pfuwU41O8Uve-LF2UKcVaJTqglKD9GMVKFfboKB-UeZYP1VwfkSa163GxHkHA4yNJvo-ApgvWp0sGQ32156rTk0C7zpA/s500/facade+copy.jpg


Small Thai place that stands out among the many other surrounding Chinese restaurants.

This was a recent closing and they have a sign outside saying "New Thai Restaurant Coming Soon!"


Yeah, I was kind of surprised that you did chain restaurants in your earlier post. This is more like it. :D

The only one of these places that I knew well was New Corner. Some of my childhood friends thought that it was the best restaurant ever. I didn't necessarily think that, but it was good. More importantly, we had many great evenings there. We would take over a table for 12 or 15 and reminisce and laugh the night away. That's what I'll remember it for.

Yeah, I was kind of surprised that you did chain restaurants in your earlier post. This is more like it. :D

The only one of these places that I knew well was New Corner. Some of my childhood friends thought that it was the best restaurant ever. I didn't necessarily think that, but it was good. More importantly, we had many great evenings there. We would take over a table for 12 or 15 and reminisce and laugh the night away. That's what I'll remember it for.

Their final years went downhill.

Local: The 4E Ranch House on Airport Highway. It was known for their prime rib.

National: Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips.

I mi$$ Ponderosa in my area.......

This was a recent one - Silver Star closed 2 days ago out of the blue.

The Chinese-American restaurant was there for 80 years.



I knew something was odd when I went there about 2 months ago. I originally asked for 1/2 roast duck and the waiter told me they don't serve duck anymore. I then asked for a pepper steak and they didn't have that either.

The waiter told me they only had 1 chef and they took some items off of the menu.

Great Fellas


https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/JE6y1Gwaza14WGDbeKDAXA/348s.jpg


This place had the unfortunate luck of having their Grand Opening just before the COVID lockdown. They did reopen when things opened up again, but they didn't make it.

It's now a RE/MAX realtor office.






Shiki


https://whereyoueat.com/r_gallery_images/rgallery-11243/0001-BG.jpg


Hibachi-style Japanese restaurant that became Lenco labs.

Place is now vacant since Quest Diagnostics took over Lenco.






Vegas Diner


https://www.brooklynpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/vegas-diner-closing-2017-04-07-bk01_s.jpg


Family owned diner that closed in 2017 after 35 years.

Place is now Golden Palace.






Bath Beach Diner


https://whereyoueat.com/r_gallery_images/rgallery-1092/Bath_Beach_Diner_1.JPG


Closed just before COVID after opening in 2012.

Place is now Tex's Chicken & Burgers.






99 Health Club


https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/GtRFTLyu6jUk17guMcBIJw/348s.jpg


Chinese sauna/massage parlor that offered light food/soups for patrons.

It's now an Asian-American senior center.






Tacos El Nopal


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53914226669_783116751e_o.jpg


Miss it for the fact that I ate here with a friend of mine approx. 2 months before he died, the last time I saw him in person.

It became another Mexican restaurant - Tequila.






The Hideout


https://whereyoueat.com/r_gallery_images/rgallery-17433/0001-BG.jpg


One of the few bars around w/ a decent stage. I saw many of my friends perform here over the years.

Before it became The Hideout, it was The Wicked Monk hence the church-like windows. They moved to another location.

This closed recently and there is a "For Lease" sign in the window.

Sinix, it was a local rock bar where bands would come and play on Friday nights. Made a lot of friends there back in the day.

Rax Roast Beef Restaurants. Loved their sandwiches and salad bar.

Hooters recently closed its location in Florissant a couple of weeks ago. Also Florissant MOD Pizza location closes it doors back in March.

A recent closing was Europa Pizzeria & Restaurant that's been open since 2001. They had their last day today (Nov. 3rd).

I couldn't make it for their last day so I ordered a pie from them. I asked the delivery guy what happened and he told me, as is the case with most restaurants, the owner wanted to retire and the sons did not want to take it over.

Im so sorry buddy :(

I went to this place a lot during my night club days in NYC during the mid-to-late 2000s, Blue 9 Burger. They were open late and had a small, cheap menu of pretty much just burgers & fries.

They had 2 locations - one on 1415 2nd Ave and the other on 92nd 3rd Ave.


There is now a similar burger joint that's been getting popular - 7th Street Burger.

Ill join ya there for a cheeseburger Jimmy :)

I've only went to this place once, but was disappointed to hear that they recently closed...

The Croatian & Serbian place Selo in Astoria, Queens.

After more than 50 years open, Brooklyn's Tommaso Ristorante is having their last day tomorrow (Dec. 31st).

A recent restaurant closing was Chopstix in Bay Ridge that had their last day on May 31st.

Local news said that business had seen an 80% decline in recent years. I last went there about a month ago.

Its very sad seeing all these places close..........

After more than 50 years open, Brooklyn's Tommaso Ristorante is having their last day tomorrow (Dec. 31st).


I didn't see this post for whatever reason. I remember Tomasso's. It's claim to fame was that it was Big Paul Castellano's favorite restaurant. He was the Mafia boss who was murdered outside Spark's Steakhouse by John Gotti in the most infamous mob hit in modern times. Big Paul used to have his secret meetings in the back room. It's closing wasn't a big surprise since the owner died a while back.

I was there a few times, but I didn't think the food was anything special. One of my old girlfriends picked up a big order of food for her office and gave them a hard time because she didn't like the way they were packing the order in her car. I said to her, "Don't you know who you're yelling at? They'll find you sleeping with the fishes." :lol:

I didn't see this post for whatever reason. I remember Tomasso's. It's claim to fame was that it was Big Paul Castellano's favorite restaurant. He was the Mafia boss who was murdered outside Spark's Steakhouse by John Gotti in the most infamous mob hit in modern times. Big Paul used to have his secret meetings in the back room. It's closing wasn't a big surprise since the owner died a while back.

I was there a few times, but I didn't think the food was anything special. One of my old girlfriends picked up a big order of food for her office and gave them a hard time because she didn't like the way they were packing the order in her car. I said to her, "Don't you know who you're yelling at? They'll find you sleeping with the fishes." :lol:


I noticed that Tomasso's has relocated to 69th and 18th Ave in Brooklyn. Smaller place.

Another restaurant closing was Park Plaza Diner in Downtown Brooklyn. Another place that couldn't recover after COVID.

https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2025/08/29/brooklyn-bids-an-emotional-goodbye-to-park-plaza-restaurant/

Thank you Jimmy for you entry :)

Some recent closings:


Manhattan:


Tacuba

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55079288692_a480608e53_z.jpg




Babylon Hookah Lounge

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55080197321_e9173d9e29_z.jpg









Staten Island:


J's on the Bay

https://whereyoueat.com/r_gallery_images/rgallery-813/IMG_7635.jpg









Bay Ridge:


Emphasis

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55080215501_397254d286.jpg




Blue Agave

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55080190526_de1605fd48.jpg




Bombay Masala

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55079293992_b37d23203b.jpg




Leif

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55080469269_563ef3fbc4.jpg

Thats very sad buddy :(