Posted on 12/27/2020 11:34:31 PM PST by nickcarraway
Two more iconic restaurants have succumbed to the coronavirus pandemic. This time, the historic locations affected are on the West and East Coast.
The owners of San Francisco’s well-known The Cliff House restaurant are closing its doors for good after running the establishment for nearly 48 years. The Cliff House location has a history that dates back 157 years.
The Cliff House had temporarily switched to take-out orders during the pandemic, but it wasn’t enough to keep the iconic restaurant in business during the COVID-19 crisis. The restaurant, which is known for its ocean views of the Pacific Ocean, will shutter its doors on Dec. 31.
The Cliff House said that 180 workers will lose their employment with the restaurant at the end of the year.
The Cliff House had a 20-year contract with the National Park Service but was unable to agree on a new long-term contract with the agency. The National Park Service had purchased the land from The Cliff House in 1977, leasing it back to the owner from there on out.
The Cliff House’s neighboring restaurant, Louis Restaurant, closed its doors after 83 years in mid-July also due to the coronavirus pandemic, reported KTVU, a Fox affiliate out of San Francisco.
On the East Coast, New York City’s 21 Club will also close because of the pandemic. The decision comes as the 21 Club has been closed since March when New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo shut down all bars and restaurants to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
"In light of the ongoing global crisis and anticipated extended recovery period for the hospitality industry, the difficult decision was made that it will not be feasible to reopen the 21 Club in its current form for the foreseeable future,” a restaurant spokesperson said, as reported by NBC News.
The restaurant spokesperson did say that the 21 Club was “exploring potential opportunities” that would allow it to remain a “viable operation.”
"At this early stage, we are not ready to announce any final concept or timeframe, but the vision is that 21 Club will always remain an important social and cultural hub and icon of New York, one that is well-positioned to fulfill its role in the City’s exciting future when the time comes.”
The 21 Club has a history that dates back to the 1930s during the Prohibition era, where it stood as a speakeasy.
The closing of the two iconic establishments comes after Bloomberg warned of mass restaurant closures. Speaking to Allen & Associates in June, the consulting firm estimated that up to 10% of all restaurants globally would disappear, with 20% or more also going through a restructuring process.
>>I’ve been to Cliff House. It was a restaurant since the Civil War. How many more will go out of business?<<
A smart person with deep pockets and patience should move in and buy the whole thing to bottom, especially the name. In a year or less it will be going gangbusters.
I was just reading today that with a vaccine on the near horizon the super rich are booking extravagant million dollar vacations. Catering to the upper class is a sure fire winner if you can break in to the circle.
The elite will own, through the Government control of, anything of worth.
You built it, they collapse it financially. Buy it for pennies, then they control who is worth becoming a customer.
As for the Box and Food super centers, They are the agreed upon Only centers to cater to the Masses.
Control food, medicine, Water, Power, transport, Media and internet then you control the masses. Globally.
They are going for the throat, we have only One chance and that is not to believe in unicorns.
Convince me I am wrong, I can wait.
I grew up with the idea that the Cliff House was a tourist haven with a spectacular view... and mediocre, overpriced food. It’s unsurprising that their business model translated poorly to takeout. You can’t “take out” the view. And the food was an expensive afterthought. Still, it’s sad for the people who liked the place. And also to see such a historic venue fail.
The Cliff house, was one of the remnants of the old Sutro Baths, which were enormous swimming pools and ice skating rinks, right on the Pacific Ocean. The foundations for the old Sutro Baths are still in place, so if you go there, you’ll see how big they were. It will re-open under new management, as the real estate is pretty useless for anything else, not to mention that it is on Federal land. It’s in the national historic register, and can’t really be used for anything else. Whoever has deep pockets can probably get a heck of a deal on it. It was a great place to have an Irish Coffee on a foggy SF day and look out over the ocean.
About 10 miles south, there’s a Taco Bell right on the beach, in Pacifica, CA. Big surf spot, and there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
About 20 miles south of the Cliff House is Half Moon Bay, CA, home to a large crabbing industry, and the legendary Maverick’s, where they have the big surf event every year. SF, has become uninhabitable, according to friends I have when I was living there, but the surrounding countryside, is breathtaking.
About 10 miles North of SF, on Coastal Route 1, as you head to Stinson Beach, are some breathtaking views of the ocean, as you wind along 1,000 foot sheer cliffs. What a waste of such beautiful scenery.
We’ve had many old classics close here in LA. I’ve always held them in higher esteem that the current restaurants. I’m not happy!
It is all part of the plandemic to change what america looks like. If enough of the traditional america is destroyed, socialist crap doesn’t look so bad, in theory.
Now it's "Please wait at the door and stay 6 feet away from the other people waiting for take out."
It's completely insane.
We lived down the road from Cliff House and Louis as a wee lad and had gone to both since forever
Lots of memories
The Cliff House had a 20-year contract with the National Park Service but was unable to agree on a new long-term contract with the agency. The National Park Service had purchased the land from The Cliff House in 1977, leasing it back to the owner from there on out.
_______
Never do business with the government you will lose
I agree and the Chinese are poised to do that
Anyone know how Sparks Steak House in NYC is doing?
Damn if they could have held out a little longer, 600 bucks are on the way. /s
You are talking China here as the elites.
Yes, China is and will be the benefactor of the fall of Amerika
That is okay, China will make good use of it
My Dad and Mom had their first post-war (WW2) meal at the Cliff House after his carrier docked in San Fran. My mom, a WAVE, had taken a train cross country to meet the ship.
I had the opportunity to eat a meal there about 15 years ago. Beautiful venue with an extraordinary view of the surf below.
Damn zhame.
The restaurants did NOT fike u red corona virus. They folded under knee jerk ineffective arbitrary and draconian government response to an virus that once in the community can it be contained by these measures
did not fold under corona virus. typing on phone....
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