So Long, Sprig, and Other Bay Area Closings

June 2

SAN FRANCISCO— On-demand food delivery startup Sprig shut down last week, laying off more than 200 workers in the process. CEO Gagan Biyani says there was always demand for the company’s pre-made meals, “but the complexity of owning meal production through delivery at scale was a challenge.” [EaterWire]

SOMA— A fire late Wednesday night has gutted the Soma Inn Cafe on Folsom Street and Seventh Street. No one was injured, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation and neighbors suspect foul play. [Hoodline]

May 26

MISSION— Motze, the experimental restaurant from former Bar Tartine chefs Nick Balla and Cortney Burns, is closing this weekend. Their final service is Saturday, May 27 — tickets to a farewell dinner event are here. Fans, worry not: The team will reopen in short order with Duna, trading Japanese for Central European flavors. [EaterWire]

CASTRO— With hopes to reopen elsewhere, Aatxe is closing on Sunday, May 28. Chef Ryan Pollnow has moved up at Thomas McNaughton’s Ne Timeas restaurant group, and you haven’t had the last of his cooking. But like its downstairs neighbor, Cafe du Nord — also a Ne Timeas operation — the space just wasn’t attracting the necessary crowds, the team said. [EaterWire]

May 12

FIDI— Wine bar Rouge et Blanc at 334 Grant Avenue is closed, making way for a new business from the same owners. They call that Harlan Place and have plans to serve dinner as well as breakfast and brunch. Wines of the hip biodynamic and sustainable variety will also be served. [Hoodline]

BERKELEY— Opened in 2013 and a fast favorite among students at Cal and Berkeley High, The Sandwich Spot on Shattuck Ave closes on May 24. It’s owner says that slim margins made it financially difficult to continue, blaming national and local chains for increasing the cost of operating in Berkeley. The Sandwich Spot is itself one of 25 licensed franchise locations in the state. [Berkeleyside]

BERKELEY— Shattuck Avenue barbecue oasis, The Brick Pig’s House, quietly shuttered sometime this spring. The “Black American Style BBQ” restaurant served ribs, hot links, and more classics before it closed. It’s now occupied by Blue Nile Ethiopian. [EaterWire]

HAYES VALLEY— New Orleans-style Boxing Room is morphing from a Cajun restaurant into a Spanish spot called Barcino. It’s still owned by Absinthe Group (Absinthe, Bellota), but after opening chef Justin Simoneaux high-tailed it back to NOLA last year, it’s time for a change. Boxing Room will stay open until early summer when it will shutter for a remodel. [EaterWire]

INNER RICHMOND— Dim sum restaurant Tong Palace has closed its doors on Clement Street. Tipster Jen F. let Eater know that not only was it closed, but the restaurant appears to be a biohazard. No word on what will take over the space. [EaterWire]

April 21

MID-MARKET — Downtown food emporium The Hall, is closing after three years on Market Street — but it’s stay was only ever met to be temporary. The food court was a provisional filler for a forthcoming 186-unit housing project awaiting the city’s protracted permitting process. Tidewater Capital’s managing partners of the unit hope to revive The Hall at a later date in a different location in the city. [SFGate]

MID-MARKET — Prosper, the health-focused fine-dining venture inside of Equinox at 747 Market St., has permanently vacated its fourth floor unit overlooking downtown. The restaurant, which operated for less than a year, joins a number of other fine-dining establishments unable to survive Market’s punishing dining scene. [Hoodline]

OAKLAND — In just two short days, Magnolia Street’s celebrated Korean-fusion restaurant, FuseBox, will close its doors. The decision is a result of what is becoming the all-too-typical Bay Area restaurant debacle: complicated leases and stringent landlords, brutal overheads, and unrewarding economics that damage small, family-owned businesses. Read the full story here. [Berkeleyside]

April 14

Restaurants are hot pieces of property in San Francisco, as several have been sold and will close their doors as a result. Good concepts and spaces are in high demand, so if you love a place make sure to support it, lest it be sold to the highest bidder.

CASTRO— Hecho Cantina (née Bandidos) has been sold, and is closing its doors after two years in business. Its short run was punctuated with ups and downs, like a 2015 kitchen fire, concept changes, and a name change shortly after opening. Now Hoodline reports that Andale, the chain of fast casual restaurants (and Mezcalito) has filed for a liquor license transfer. According to Hecho’s owners, there’s still time to come in for brunch before it closes in the coming months.

OAKLAND— The Piedmont neighborhood’s temple of salumi, Adesso, has been sold to new owners and will close. There’s no timeline for closure available for the restaurant, which opened in 2009. The owners plan to focus more on Dopo, the owners’ other restaurant.

SOMA— After 20 years in the neighborhood, Ristorante Umbria has been forced to close after losing its lease. The restaurant’s last day is May 1, so stop by for a Caesar or caprese salad before then.

FILLMORE— After a year in business, Mosu is closing shop as chef Sung Anh plans a move to South Korea. He will reopen the business there as he reunites with his family; a return to SF is also planned, but no word on exact timing for that, or what the concept could become. Read the full story here.

March 23

Several longtime favorites have closed (or will soon close) around town, but Chestnut St. in the Marina seems to be the hardest hit with Mezes and Mamacita both departing. Neighborhood restaurants like these leave a major gap in the dining scene; stay tuned to see what replaces them.

INNER SUNSET — Japanese restaurant Kitchen Kura is forsaking its spot at 1525 Irving St. so that its owners can open a bed a breakfast in Kyoto, Japan. [Hoodline]

INNER SUNSET — After less than a year at 1386 9th Ave., MooDees Indian Restaurant has closed up shop. A notice in the window hints that the newcomer will be called Gorkha Kitchen, but there’s no other available details just yet.

INNER SUNSET — Bakery and custom cake shop J & J Bakery is no more. However, it will only be a short time before you’re able to get the shop’s signature made-to-order triple-tiered cakes again — the owners have plans to relocate to 324 Grand Ave. [Hoodline]

BERKELEY — Sushi Ko, the inexpensive sushi and bento box shop at 64 Shattuck Sq., has closed. A fried chicken wing restaurant called Fire Wings is already slated to take its place. [B-side]

BERKELEY — Beloved neighborhood coffee shop Take 5 Café is departing its window front at 3130 Sacramento St. No word yet on who will be taking over Take 5’s lease. [B-side]

EMBARCADERO — Marla Bakery’s location inside the Ferry Building has shuttered. The shop’s owners plan on focusing entirely on Marla’s other location at 3619 Balboa St. [EaterWire]

OAKLAND — Southern kitchen Ol Yeller Cafe ‘N’ Market (2708 98th Ave.) quietly closed its restaurant and patio, much to the chagrin of its loyal breakfast patrons. [Hoodline]

INNER RICHMOND -- After a revamped menu fell flat, popular brunch spot The Corner Store has gone dark. The owners hope to focus their efforts on their other two city establishments — sports bar San Francisco Athetlic Club and Soma’s Lord George. [SFGate]

MARINA — Bustling Mexican bar and restaurant Mamacita has closed, but the space still belongs to the same owners. It’s rumored that they have plans to debut a brand new concept at the same location later this year. [Tablehopper]

MARINA— Following Mamacita’s lead, Mezes Greek Kitchen and Wine Bar will close after a final service on April 30. Owner Nikos Maheras has served his style of Greek food to the neighborhood for 17 years; his spread will still be distributed to local retailers. [InsideScoop]

NOB HILL -- After twenty long years at 2226 Polk St., casual burger and breakfast stopover Polker’s Burgers has lost its lease. East Bay’s Greek diner Troy Greek has plans to take over. [Tablehopper]

POLK — Hong Kong frozen yogurt chain Yoppi has lost its location at 2125 Polk St. However, there’s still several Yoppi’s left in the city, including a nearby outpost in Pacific Heights. [Hoodline]

March 10

Two well-regarded businesses closed this week — Jewish deli Shorty Goldstein’s and naughty cream purveyor Doughnut Dolly — both pointing to what is becoming a common refrain here in San Francisco: a punishing and unpredictable market for small businesses.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT — Shorty Goldstein's, the family-owned Jewish deli responsible for keeping downtown’s office workers filled up on potato knish, latkes, and matzah ball soup, is closing. The shop at 126 Sutter St. is yet another casualty in the city’s punishing and unpredictable market. [SFGate]

MID-MARKET — After last week’s surprise shutter of Doughnut Dolly’s Berkeley location, the news has gotten more shocking: chef/owner Hannah Hoffman has closed all three locations of her pastry brand, effective immediately. Hoffman made the decision after taking a hard look at the finances and choosing to cut her losses than continue them. [EaterWire]

HAYES VALLEY — Mexican-styled cocktail bar South has departed from its sleek interior inside SFJazz Center at 201 Franklin St. The Jazz Center is already hinting at the arrival of a new bar and restaurant that is in the works, although details remain scarce. [Hoodline]

INNER RICHMOND — A disconcertingly low health score led to the closure of Japanese fusion mom-and-pop Hawker Eats. The space at 1650 Balboa St. has already shifted ownership — now it’s re-opened as AYI Super Korean, an Asian fusion restaurant serving up soju-laden cocktails. [Hoodline]

MISSION — Thai restaurant Bangkok Bistro, known for its reasonable prices and generous servings, has shuttered after less than a year at its location at 530 Valencia St. [Hoodline]

TENDERLOIN — No-frills Vietnamese cafe Four Seasons Restaurant (721 Larkin St.) is no longer open, which means you’ll have to get your late-night pho somewhere else for now. [Hoodline]

OAKLAND — Koryo Korean BBQ at 4390 Telegraph Ave. quietly closed up shop last week, though the reason for its closure is unknown. [Hoodline]

OAKLAND — Retro-styled drive-in joint Space Burger is now vacant. No news yet on who will take over the shop at 2150 Telegraph Ave., which comes equipped with a roomy parking lot. [Hoodline]

OAKLAND — Taiwanese coffee and tea shop Chick & Tea posted a note to its window wishing the neighborhood farewell. According to the cafe’s Facebook, the owners are searching for a new location. [Hoodline]

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March 3

It’s been a rough week for the East Bay, which lost beloved doughnut shop Doughnut Dolly as well as cozy tiki lounge Longitude. Meanwhile, over in SF, Loló Cevicheria, Pacific Puffs, and Wildcraft all departed the scene this week as well.

MISSION — Popular Loló Cevicheria which will be vacating its vivid interior at 3230 22nd St. Loló’s Valencia outpost remains open and the owner says he still has plans for a second Loló Cevicheria in the future. [SFGate]

BERKELEY — After a failed lease negotiation, Doughnut Dolly closed up shop at 1313 9th St. But don’t worry — you can still enjoy Dolly’s sugary, sticky doughnuts at either its Mid-Market or Temescal locations. [EaterWire]

OAKLAND — Tiki oasis Longitude is closing after just three years of mixing mai tais. Longitude’s location at 347 14th St will be vacant as of Sunday, March 5. [Tablehopper]

MARINA — Cream puff shop Pacific Puffs’ last San Francisco location has shuttered at 2201 Union St. For now, Pacific Puffs will remain operating out of a food truck, but the family-owned concept hopes to expand later into the South Bay. [Hoodline]

MARINA — Kobani Mediterranean Grill has closed its doors on its location at 3242 Scott St. However, you can still enjoy the restaurant’s signature gyros and Mezze platters at its Berkeley location. [Hoodline]

OAKLAND — Casual lunch spot Christopher’s Burger is leaving its space at 5295 College Ave. to make way for another fast-food favorite: a fried chicken restaurant called Wingman. [B-side]

UPPER MARKET — A sign on the window at Wildcraft Espresso (2299 Market St.) announced that the cafe will be closing. “Our artistic lives are taking off!” the note explained. [Hoodline]