Cooper-young restaurant Sweet Grass / Next Door closing. Here’s why
Chef Ryan Trimm is closing his Cooper-young restaurant Sweet Grass / Next Door.
Trimm announced Friday that he has decided to close his 12-year-old restaurant and bar at 937 Cooper St.
“I don’t want to close, but I also don’t want to pay the escalated rent,” said Trimm, adding his landlord is increasing the building’s rent by 40%.
His lease had expired last April, but instead of renewing for a five-year term he opted for a one-year lease. At the time, he did not anticipate such a dramatic increase in rent when he went to renegotiate in 2022.
Trimm said his sales have yet to return to the 2019 pre-pandemic levels, and that paying a 40% increase in rent does not make financial sense for his business.
Trimm opened Sweet Grass in April 2010. The following year he opened Sweet Grass / Next Door, a casual sports restaurant and bar. Sweet Grass has won such accolades as Best New Restaurant and Best Bar in multiple Memphis publications. In addition, Trimm was nominated for Food and Wine’s People’s Best New Chef 2011.
The neighborhood bistro is known for its Low Country style cuisine made with local ingredients.
Trimm said he hopes to reopen in another location in Midtown. “I would love to purchase a 3,000square-foot place,” he said.
He added he is grateful that he has other restaurants to keep his staff employed. Employees who choose to will go on to work at his Downtown steakhouse 117 Prime or at Sunrise Memphis.
A final closing date has yet to be set, but Trimm said Easter brunch may be the final service. His lease ends April 30.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.