Miss them yet? These 10 SouthCoast restaurants are still fresh in memory.
Ever have one of your favorite places to eat close down?
As the local business landscape ebbs and flows, it seems as if the answer is more and more likely to be "yes" with every passing month, as older restaurants make way for newer businesses, often with little notice.
Join us as we take a look back on some of the past eateries around the SouthCoast that have added to the ever-growing list of closed spots in recent years.
1. Me & Ed's Restaurant
Me & Ed's Restaurant, 30 Brock Ave., had been a staple in New Bedford's South End for 57 years before closing its doors for good in May 2021, according to a past Standard-Times report.
"The demand the last few weeks has made us realize one thing," read a "last day" post on the Me & Ed's Facebook page, undersigned by owner Corey Lorenco. "We were loved close and afar and that alone has stamped its own place in history."
Look back: A new café is coming to the Me & Ed's Restaurant site — here's what's planned
As of March 2022 a new business, Cafe Taber, was in the works for the location, according to reporting. However, that business has yet to open.
2. Whaling City Diner
After 11 years open, the Whaling City Diner served its last meals in June 2022. The diner at 894 Purchase St., downtown New Bedford, was run by husband-and-wife co-owners Elsa Defaria and Douglas Sterling. For its last day running, Father's Day, the diner was only open for breakfast.
"We will deeply miss our customers, staff, and place we have called home for so many years!" read a message posted from the Whaling City Diner's Facebook account on June 18, 2022.
Take a look back: 'Time to move on': Whaling City Diner closes; owners to expand other New Bedford business
In an interview about the closing, Defaria and Sterling told The Standard-Times that they intended to focus on Clark's Point Creamery, 26 Brock Ave., in New Bedford's South End. That business has since closed also, though the location has reopened this year as Surfside Creamery, according to Surfside's Facebook page.
3. Cafe Italia Ristorante
Cafe Italia Ristorante moved downtown into 555 Pleasant St. from its former home in New Bedford's South End in 2019, according to past Standard-Times reporting. Then, in June 2022, closure came suddenly. According to a report from that time, Cafe Italia owner/chef Nick Ricciardi had shared on social media that a cancer diagnosis was the reason.
Look back: Four downtown New Bedford restaurants close — what does this mean for the dining scene?
4. Juice'd Cafe
Juice'd Cafe in New Bedford's West End opened at 984 Kempton St. in June 2019, according to past reports, and closed in 2022, with plans to open another Juice'd Cafe location in Fall River later that year. That location, at 1475 Plymouth Ave., remains open today.
"We're really sorry for the abrupt closure, it was just some circumstances out of our control," said Juice'd Cafe co-owner Luis Gonsalves of the New Bedford closing at the time.
5. Airport Grille
The current closure of the Airport Grille at New Bedford Regional Airport, 1569 Airport Road, was announced just over a year ago in June 2023, with the closure to follow in December that year. It wasn't the first time the airport's restaurant space had been closed and reopened: It was gutted and expanded to be reopened in 2009; then closed and reopened once again in 2019.
Look back: Airport Grille reopens with new owners
According to Restaurant Director George Telheiro in a 2009 Standard-Times report, the restaurant leveraged "the unique setting on the runway and the history of New Bedford Airport to create a retro-aviation feeling."
6. Union Flats Seafood Co.
Union Flats Seafood Co., at 39 Union St., downtown, opened in 2021, according to a past Standard-Times report, before announcing closure in September 2023.
"Thank you for all the love and support. This community we’ve built means the world to us. Unfortunately it’s time to move on," read a Sept. 29, 2023 post from Union Flats' Facebook account. "Last dinner service tonight, limited menu. Come toast with us."
Look back: Here's what kind of fish this new restaurant in New Bedford is featuring on its menu
In a past interview, about the opening of Union Flats, co-owner Amelia Ruvich said the business aimed to "bring some focus to maybe some lesser known fish as well as utilizing bycatch from fishing boats."
7. Krave Restaurant
Asian-fusion restaurant Krave opened up at 1856 Acushnet Ave. in New Bedford's North End in February 2022, according to a past Standard-Times report, enjoying a short run until its closing in December 2023.
Look back: Krave Restaurant announces it will close. Here's what we know.
"This chapter may be closing, but the memories and connections forged will forever remain a cherished part of Krave's legacy," read a Dec. 8, 2023 post from Krave's Facebook account, signed "The Ownership and Staff of Krave Restaurant and Bar."
8. Dicky's Clam Shack
It wasn't a restaurant in the brick-and-mortar sense, but, by the time its closing was announced this past May, Dicky's Clam Shack had built a faithful following for itself since opening in 2013. Consisting of food trailers parked in a lot at 880 State Road in Dartmouth, owner Richie Medeiros said in a May 2024 Standard-Times interview that the pandemic made things difficult for business.
“The cost of fish went from $3 to $6.75 and clams went from $85 to almost $150 per gallon. ... This meant that in order to make a profit, I had to increase my prices, which made it difficult for customers to afford to eat at my restaurant as often," he is quoted in that report.
Look back: Dicky's Clam Shack closes popular outdoor Dartmouth restaurant. Here's why.
9. Freestones City Grill
Fresh from just last week is the closing of Freestones City Grill at 41 William St., downtown New Bedford. The closing came after two years of being reopened under new management, according to a Standard-Times report.
Look back: Freestone's City Grill closes its doors. Here's everything we know so far.
In a recent interview with The Standard-Times, Freestones co-owner Howie Mallowes said the sudden departure of key kitchen staff was a major factor in the unplanned closing.
"If you see, we put a brand new sign up on Thursday," Mallowes said last week.
Freestones was established in 1979 by Debbie Seguin and her late husband Kerry Mitchell. Before that, the historic 1870 building had been used as a bank and a warehouse.
Look back: Minerva Pizza House team in Fairhaven said Saturday was their last hurrah
10. Minervas Pizza House
Another piece of news from last week was that Minervas Pizza House closed, although it remains unclear whether or not it will reopen under new management.
Meanwhile, Minerva Pizza at 280 Union St., New Bedford remains open; as does Minerva Pizza House at 257 Main St., Wareham.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Memories of these 10 closed SouthCoast restaurants are still fresh
