Native Foods Cafe Shuts Down San Diego Branch Amid Vegan Restaurant Chain Woes.

One of the last remaining locations of Native Foods Cafe, a vegan fast-casual restaurant chain, is set to close in San Diego. The eatery, which has been in operation since 2014, will permanently shut down after the end of service on July 10, 2023. The branch at 3369 Rosecrans Street will continue to operate for the foreseeable future.

Native Foods Café has an interesting history. Founded in Palm Springs, CA by Tanya Petrovna in 1994, the chain gained popularity for its entirely vegan American comfort food menu. In 2009, the brand was purchased by Daniel Dolan and Andrea McGinty, who moved the headquarters to Chicago. The restaurant chain had 26 branches scattered throughout the country in 2015. Sadly, that number has dwindled to only 10 locations today.

This summer, the Clairemont Mesa branch of Native Foods Cafe, located on Balboa Avenue, will close its doors permanently. The Encinitas Village location closed in 2020, leaving only the Rosecrans Street location standing. Both restaurants opened their doors to customers in 2014.

Despite the closure of the Balboa Avenue branch, Native Foods Cafe continues to offer plant-based cuisine to its loyal clientele. For those looking to get their fix of vegan comfort food, the remaining location at Rosecrans Street is available. Those interested in finding out more information can visit the restaurant’s website at nativefoods.com.

The closure of the Balboa Avenue Native Foods Cafe will undoubtedly be felt by patrons who frequented the restaurant for its delicious vegan entrees. With just one remaining Native Foods Cafe location in San Diego, the chain’s presence in the area has considerably diminished, leaving individuals to search for alternative options for their plant-based dietary needs.