Chicago Native Foods announced its sudden closure via social media. The cafe permanently shut its doors on November 28 and cited financial challenges and reduced foot traffic caused by the shift to remote work as the reasons for closing.
Chicago Native Foods Shuts Down
Opened in November 2023, Chicago Native Foods had been one of the last few Native food spots in the Midwest. The café served fully vegan dishes, offering a tasty and eco-friendly dining experience.
In an official announcement, the restaurant team stated, “Chicago Native Foods will be closing our doors for good on Friday, November 28.”
On Instagram, the team looked back on two years as an employee-owned café that welcomed both vegan and non-vegan diners.
“We stepped into that chapter with pride. We showed up for both the vegan and non-vegan communities, hosted events, and celebrated milestones that truly mattered,” stated the restaurant.
In its closure announcement, the restaurant noted that shifts in downtown Chicago’s dining scene had significantly affected its business.
The restaurant explained, “The closure of several nearby businesses and the major shift to work-from-home drastically reduced the foot traffic we rely on. Those challenges made it impossible for us to sustain operations, despite our team’s dedication and effort.”
View this post on Instagram
Fans React to Chicago Native Foods Closure on Social Media
The news of the closure has saddened the Chicago food community, and several fans and loyal customers of Chicago Native Foods flooded the official announcement post with heartfelt messages.
One fan wrote, “You were one of the best things I looked forward to visiting in Chicago. Best of luck with the other locations. We need businesses like you.”
“Very sad. A destination for us in Chicago. Best of luck and best wishes for the future—will find you at your other locations,” added another customer.
Although the Clark Street café has closed, Chicago Native Foods will continue serving customers at its Glendale, CO, and Palm Springs, CA, locations.
The Chicago closure marks the loss of a beloved vegan café in the city’s dining scene.
