Locol Closes Last Remaining Locations in San Jose and Watts

Locol, an ambitious answer to corporate fast food from celebrity chefs Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson, has closed its last two retail locations, Locol’s Watts flagship and its San Jose outpost within a Whole Foods market. The development follows the June closure of Locol’s West Oakland location. Despite the news, Locol’s business remains intact, Choi insists, with a renewed emphasis on catering.

“We are just leaving retail store ops for now ([Watts] facility will remain open as a catering event space) to find the most profitable path for growth for our communities and the company,” the chef wrote on Instagram. “Thank you all in LA for the support and to the cities of Watts. Oakland, and San Jose, one love.”

Locol’s San Jose location opened in January as the then-chains first foray into a partnership with Whole Foods. “We amicably parted ways,” with Whole Foods San Jose, Choi explained in a statement to Eater SF. A customer service representative at the store says the business bought out its contract.

Despite closing its retail arm, Choi is broadcasting Locol’s continued commitment to customers. “We are here and still cooking our delicious soul food for all,” he says. The possibility of a Richmond, CA location for Locol, which the company hinted at this spring, is “still on the table,” Choi says.

• Roy Choi Makes Tough Call on Locol, Closing Watts Restaurant [ELA]