From Bay Area coffee shops to California diners, the coast keeps thinning out.
From the historic to the corporate, this week’s update covers a wide spectrum of closures along the coast. The headline story is the loss of The Original Saugus Cafe in Santa Clarita, California, which has gone dark after a staggering 140-year run. In Silicon Valley, the iconic Il Fornaio in Palo Alto—a reported favorite of Steve Jobs—has served its final meal after 36 years. The contraction of major chains continues as Peet’s Coffee shutters multiple Bay Area locations, IHOP exits San Luis Obispo County entirely, and Joe’s Crab Shack retreats from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, leaving the once-dominant brand with just 14 locations nationwide. This email was originally sent out on January 22nd, 2026.
Our Thursday edition, Coastline Closings, highlights restaurant closures along the Pacific edge—covering California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. Published every Thursday, this edition documents how coastal cities and island communities are navigating the unique pressures of tourism, weather, and rising costs. It serves as a weekly record of how the dining landscape is shifting where the land meets the sea, capturing the stories of the places that once thrived near harbors, highways, and ocean views. Read more here.
