NYC Restaurant Closures: January 2025

The New York City restaurant scene is constantly evolving, and January 2025 saw several beloved establishments close their doors. Here's a roundup of some notable closures and what the future holds for these locations:

Notable Closures:

Buttermilk Channel (Carroll Gardens): This long-standing New American restaurant closed after 16 years, allowing owner Doug Crowell to focus on his other restaurant, French Louie. Its two locations in Japan remain open.

Ugly Baby (Carroll Gardens): Known for its spicy duck salad and impressive beer selection, this popular Thai restaurant closed to allow chef Sirichai Sreparplarn to work on a cookbook.

Gran Eléctrica (Dumbo): This Mexican restaurant, from the team behind Colonie and Pips, closed to make way for a new French bistro with Scandinavian influences, slated to open in February.

Contento (East Harlem): This Peruvian restaurant closed citing inflation, safety concerns, and declining numbers. Creative director Yannick Benjamin penned a New York Times essay discussing the closure and the high costs of healthcare for hospitality workers.

Offside Tavern (East Village): This relatively new tavern closed suddenly due to a landlord claim.

Rai Rai Ken (East Village): After over 20 years, this beloved ramen shop closed due to an unfortunate series of events.

Gotham West Market (Hell's Kitchen): This popular food hall closed on New Year's Eve, with future plans for the space yet to be determined.

M. Wells (Long Island City): The French-Canadian bistro closed after deciding not to renew its lease.

Subway Inn (Midtown): This iconic dive bar closed after facing liquor licensing issues. The owners are searching for a new location.

LaLou (Prospect Heights): This natural wine restaurant closed due to rising costs and industry challenges. Its sister restaurant, Bar Vinazo, also recently closed.

The Woo (Soho): The Korean barbecue restaurant closed temporarily, with plans to reopen in a new location.

En Brasserie (West Village): This 20-year-old Japanese restaurant closed after the landlord refused to renew its lease. The space will become a new restaurant by chef Daniel Humm.

Figure Eight (West Village): This Chinese American Southern coastal restaurant closed after a little over a year of operation.

Hakata Tonton (West Village): This Japanese hot pot restaurant closed after a 2021 reopening.

Da Francesco (Williamsburg): This Italian American spot closed, but will reopen as Da Francesco Pizza & Cucina at a new location.