The restaurant business is a tricky thing to get right under normal circumstances. Even the best food and business model can still leave a restaurant owner looking at a sea of red on their balance sheet. 2020 has made owning a restaurant even harder with long term shutdowns that have closed off normal indoor operations and people have lost large swaths of income that normally would be used to eat out verses eating at home.
We always want to keep things as light and positive as possible but we also want to let you know who won’t be around when you get a hankering for a certain location. In keeping things light and positive we wanted to throw in those locations that were brave enough to open new locations or expand operations in this very turbulent time in our history.
Closed in 2020:
Augies Coffee – This Redlands based coffee chain closed all 5 locations this year.
Burgerim – Many of these franchise locations have closed over the last couple years. The closures for Burgerim steamed from poor leadership from corporate and a poor business model. Locations that have closed recently or this year are Montclair, Moreno Valley and Ontario.
Cucas Mexican Food – This Redlands chain closed one of it’s restaurants near Loma Linda.
Hometown Buffet – Having closed all locations early in the pandemic with a permanent closure of the Hemet location. Liquidation auctions were held at many other Inland Empire based locations as well. It will be difficult to see how buffets can successfully return post pandemic.
Souplantation – Another buffet style business that was already struggling filed for bankruptcy early on.
Outback Steakhouse – The franchise owner chose to not renew the lease of his Moreno Valley location.
Pacific Fish Grill – Shutdown all locations including Eastvale and Chino Hills.
Slaters 50/50 – The Rancho Cucamonga location has been closed since suffering water damage pre pandemic shutdown. The Inland Empire locations phone number is disconnected and social media is of other locations.
& Burgers – The newest burger joint in the Canyon Crest Shopping center closed this summer.
a la minute ice cream – Popular nitrogen ice cream shop based out of Redlands had grown to multiple locations in 3 other counties. Now only the Redlands location remains.
New York Grill – Fine Dinning and Jazz establishment located just outside the Ontario Mills Mall shut its doors in June.
Rogers Burgers – Located in San Bernardino and home of the 4×4 wild and reckless burger was boarded up and fenced off in October.
Rossa’s Cucina – Said goodbye on Facebook in early November.
Taylors Bar & Grill – Located between Redlands and Loma Linda since 1934. Taylor’s has weathered some major events but the 2020 Pandemic was too much for this long standing location.
The Wall – Part of the Splash Kindom Water park and tried to rebrand as a gastro pub has been shutdown due to 2 fires this year.
Tole-House Cafe – The popular breakfast location founded by the owners of Corky’s Kitchen and Bakery was bulldozed over the summer.
Opened or Opening 2020:
Taco About Good – A new taco location to open up in Downtown Upland is the dream child of former Tacos Los Carnales manager.
Norms Restaurant – Rialto got a new Norms this year added to the restaurants that opened in the Renaissance Marketplace.
Rallys Burger – Rialto has seen a lot of growth and this year they added a 2nd Rallys location.
The Habit – Colton got their 1st ever Habit Burger location in 2020.
Huicho’s Mexican Food – opened a 2nd location in the place where Cuca’s had recently occupied.
Lenoir’s Bistro & Bakery – Located in the Canyon Crest shopping center taking up the location that once housed the & Burgers restaurant.
Inland Empire Food Halls:
Lost Masala Mischief, Sweet Combforts and Freely Raw
Added Baba’s Chicken, Dads Ice Cream & Boba, Mi Cafecito Coffee and Maki Bomb
Cookhouse Food Hall at Vail Headquarters