Urban Eats plans to close despite late rally of support
Urban Eats, the neighborhood bistro and market that was asking for community support this month, is officially closing.
Owner Levi Rollins confirmed the last day of service for the restaurant at 3414 Washington Ave. will be Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The closure comes as a result of financial troubles for the restaurant that started during the pandemic.
“I’m heartbroken and so sad to disappoint the community and my team,” Rollins said.
During the pandemic, sales tanked by 70% because they could only do to-go orders. Rollins and business partner Eric Munoz resorted to highinterest loans to continue paying the restaurant’s bills and haven’t been able to catch up with increasing taxes and costs of supplies.
On Jan. 12, Rollins took to Facebook to share the state of the business. He shared that for more than a year, they have been navigating through their struggles by decreasing costs where they could, but that they would need community support to keep operating.
Urban Eats saw a huge influx in traffic after the post, with the restaurant’s highest sales day since opening in 2014. Rollins said he was nearly in tears.
In a post Wednesday, the owners said they had raised a portion of the amount due for rent and property taxes but did not have enough to cover what was required.
For its last days of business, an abbreviated menu will be available and market items will be discounted.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude for the incredible nine years we’ve spent with you,” the owners wrote.