What’s closing — and why — across Southern cities
From the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas, a mix of quiet exits and emotional farewells marked this week’s restaurant news. Louisiana lost a Five Guys location and Sarasota, Florida saw a cluster of closures including Cuba 1958 and Cafe Divan, while Kentucky’s El Jefe’s Cubanos stands out as a rare relocation rather than a permanent loss. North Carolina faced the heaviest blows, waving goodbye to decades-old institutions like Greensboro’s M’Coul’s Public House and Ocean Isle Beach’s Talk of the Town, as well as newer concepts like Winterville’s Famiglia, which cited rising operating costs as the driver behind its sudden end. This email was originally sent out on Feb 4th, 2026.
Welcome to this week’s Southern Last Call. Down here, the best restaurants have never been just about the food—they’re about the “hey, how’s your mama?” greetings, the worn-in booths, and the recipes passed down through generations. On Wednesdays, we’re paying tribute to the latest institutions closing their doors across the South. From the Gulf to the Appalachians, these are the kitchens that fed our communities, the landmarks that defined our towns, and the stories that deserve one final toast before the lights go out. Read more here.
