Albany restaurant closure
Fonda
11.07.24: Fonda, a Spanish and Mexican Mayan tapas restaurant and longtime cornerstone of the Albany/North Berkeley restaurant community, bid farewell to Solano Avenue for good after more than 20 years in business. Fonda reached out to Nosh directly to confirm the news and published a statement on its website, citing sluggish pandemic recovery as the impetus for the closure. “While this is not our preferred outcome, the simple reality is that the restaurant industry is a tough one to navigate successfully, especially after a pandemic that altered dining habits significantly,” the statement reads. Fonda’s last night of service was Nov. 23. Fonda, 501 Solano Ave., Albany
El Cerrito restaurant closure
Cafe9Ine
11.07.24: In the face of “rising food costs, labor expenses, and other daily demands,” El Cerrito’s Cafe9Ine announced its closure last week via a heartfelt Instagram post penned by chef-owner Merceda Crosby. The café, opened four years ago, served as a hub for grabbing coffee and a comforting breakfast burrito or sandwich. Crosby has opened a fundraiser to “close out this chapter without the burden of lingering debt” and cover outstanding expenses. Cafe9Ine was located at 11100 San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito.
Oakland restaurant closures
Beer Baron
11.07.24: Beer Baron, the craft beer and whiskey bar that once boasted three East Bay locations, closes its Oakland branch on College Ave., bringing the count down to one. (Its Pleasanton bar remains.) Since 2018, the casual watering hole has provided Rockridge with a solid space for gatherings on its large outdoor patio, as well as lunch, dinner and happy hour options, plus a wide selection of whiskeys from around the world. Beer Baron closed on Nov. 9, per an Instagram post. Beer Baron, 5900 College Ave., Oakland
La Perla
11.27.24: Puerto Rican staple La Perla shuttered its Dimond district restaurant on Nov. 30, but it’s not goodbye forever: you can still stop in for mofongo and empanadillas at its new location in the Castro Valley Marketplace (3295 Castro Valley Blvd.) is expected to open around Dec. 15. The move isn’t due to costs or crime, as has been the case with other restaurants — chef-owner Jose “Cheo” Ortiz cited convenience as the main impetus, as he’s recovering from cancer and would prefer his restaurant to be closer to his Castro Valley residence. La Perla was located at 3409 Fruitvale Ave. in Oakland.
San Pablo restaurant closure
Kebab Express
11.14.24: A hawk-eyed reader informed us that San Pablo’s Kebab Express, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean staples like chicken shawarma, falafel wraps, gyros and lamb chops, closed its doors on Nov. 17. The casual eatery was located in the San Pablo Towne Center. We don’t know the reason behind the closure, and there’s no word of a reemergence elsewhere so far. Kebab Express, 3350 San Pablo Ave Suite A5, San Pablo
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