Restaurants

The vegetarian chain couldn’t find a buyer, and now all 11 of its restaurants are shutting down.

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It’s the end of an era for chickpea fritter sandwiches, mushroom poppers, and soy BLTs. Clover Food Lab announced Tuesday that it will close all 11 of its restaurants for good, citing inflation, thin margins, and the limited ability to raise prices.

The final day of service for Clover’s restaurants and meal-box delivery will be Thursday, May 28. 

“For 17 years, we have championed local farms and served tens of thousands across Greater Boston,” the restaurant wrote in an email to its customers. “We’re deeply saddened to share this news – for our employees, New England farmers, and you, our guests and supporters.”

Clover first started as a food truck in 2008, stationed outside of MIT. It served food made with ingredients from local farmers, such as Brussels sprouts, Japanese sweet potato, and zucchini. Over the years, it morphed from a food truck into a fast-casual restaurant chain and a meal-box delivery service in the region. 

In 2023, Clover filed for bankruptcy protection, citing rising costs, slow sales, and difficulty raising capital from investors. The following year, the company emerged from bankruptcy, with only two fewer restaurants and 240 employees. 

At the end of March, Clover said that it was seeking a new buyer, following a filing of a state notice announcing plans to lay off 182 workers. The inability to find a new owner led the company to close its doors. 

“Today, everyone is getting hit with rising costs – food prices are up, delivery prices are up, and a hundred other costs are moving in the same direction,” the company wrote. “Across the board, our ingredients cost 30-50% more today than they did just two years ago.”

Although they raised prices somewhat, the company said it understands there is a limit, as its customers are also feeling the constraints. 

The veggie-forward chain also faced increased competition from other healthy lifestyle chains that have popped up in the region, such as Life Alive, CAVA, Sweetgreen, and Dig Inn. 

“We’re deeply saddened about the circumstances,” Clover wrote. 

However, they encouraged customers to come in one last time. 

“Come in, enjoy some of your favorites, and let the staff know you’ll miss them,” Clove wrote. “We’ll certainly miss all of you.”