Bay Area Vegan Restaurants Face Closure Amid Rising Challenges
Bay Area vegan restaurants are closing en masse — as even their owners want more from the menu
Image: New York Post
Malibu’s Burgers in Oakland will close this weekend, marking a decline in the Bay Area's vegan restaurant scene. The owner cites high ingredient costs and shifting dietary trends as contributing factors to the closure, following other recent shutdowns in the region.
- 01Malibu’s Burgers will close after service on June 6, 2025, following a successful run as a food truck.
- 02The closure is part of a larger trend, with other vegan establishments like Millennium and Amy’s Drive Thru also shutting down recently.
- 03Owner Darren Preston shifted to a meat-inclusive menu earlier this year, but this did not revive sales.
- 04High costs of plant-based ingredients and competition from meat-focused diets are major challenges for vegan restaurants.
- 05Malibu’s Burgers will host a final comedy show by vegan comedian Steven Marcus Releford on its last day.
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Malibu’s Burgers, a vegan restaurant in Uptown Oakland, is set to close after its final service on June 6, 2025. The closure highlights a troubling trend for vegan eateries in the Bay Area, with several others like Millennium and Amy’s Drive Thru also recently shutting down. Owner Darren Preston noted that the decision to close was made easier by the ongoing challenges of running a vegan restaurant, including high costs for plant-based ingredients and declining sales influenced by the popularity of high-protein, meat-focused diets. Despite attempts to revitalize the menu by introducing meat and cheese, Preston found that these changes did not attract enough customers. The restaurant, which began as a food truck, became known for its Tasha Grande burger, praised for its resemblance to traditional fast food. As a farewell, Malibu’s Burgers will host a comedy show on its last day, while Preston plans to take time off to focus on family.
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The closure of Malibu’s Burgers reflects broader economic challenges facing vegan restaurants in the Bay Area, potentially limiting dining options for plant-based eaters.
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