Jojo to Shutter on New Year's Eve After Nine Years

North Oakland: Sad news from Piedmont Avenue, where neighborhood favorite Jojo Restaurant has announced that it will close on the last day of the 2008, right after celebrating its ninth anniversary this December. Mary Jo Thoresen, Curt Clingman and company will offer one last cassoulet wine dinner on New Year's Eve and then call it quits on the first day of '09. We couldn't reach the restaurant for confirmation, since it's closed on Mondays, but Manager Richard Herrera Lopez's full goodbye letter—sent out to family and friends—is after the jump. For those wondering, Team Jojo will apparently make the shift into event planing, for "endeavors both large and small."

Dear Friends of Jojo,

December 2008 marks the 9th anniversary of Jojo. We want to thank you all for your support and friendship, and indeed your part in making Jojo the special place that it has become. One can plan a restaurant lay out, menus, wines and staff, but you can never plan for how the folks who come in for dinner will impact your place. This has been your wonderful and unexpected gift. You all have made Jojo a wonderful place for us too. For that, we are deeply grateful.

Our last day will be New Years Eve...going out in style, Cassoulet style that is. If you can't join us then, we hope to see you sometime soon.

Cheers!

Curt, Mary Jo, Richard and all the Jojo staff

P.S. Many of you have expressed interest in our future plans. Besides a little time set aside for some skiing, we'll be moving into event planning, taking on endeavors both large and small. Feel free to contact us with your thoughts at: jojorestaurant@earthlink.net

And by the way, don't miss Mary Jo's souffle cake appearing in the December issue of San Francisco Magazine. It's a little squished, but it still tastes good. I will be sending out the menu for NYE before too long...it will be in our usual wine dinner format.

rhl

Richard Herrera Lopez
Manager, Jojo Restaurant