Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Charlotte Observer
‘I’m devastated’: Dilworth vegan restaurant announces closure after 14 years
By Heidi Finley,
17 days ago
Fern, Flavors From The Garden , a stalwart restaurant in Charlotte’s vegan scene, has announced it’s permanently closing Saturday, May 4.
”Farewell to all of our friends at Fern. It has been a pleasure serving our Vegan and Vegetarian community over the past fourteen years. The time has come for us to close our doors,” a message posted on Instagram posted by owner Jill Marcus & The Fern Flavors Team said.
”We hope you will join us for our final week of service. Saturday, May 4th will be our last day. Thank you for all your stories, recipes and support over the years. It has been wonderful serving you.”
Fern, Flavors From the Garden is part of Marcus’ Mother Earth Group of restaurants. Its sister spots include Coquette , Mariposa and Hip Pies . Fern spent five years in its original home on Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood before moving to Dilworth in 2016.
Hundreds of loyal Fern customers reached out to express their sorrows, with several calling out the restaurant’s cauliflower dishes, in particular.
Richard Pugh said, “What on earth? This is crazy. All the vegetarian and vegan restaurants are closing. At least pass on the recipe for that awesome buffalo cauliflower or the cinnamon rolls.”
And Sarah G said, “I’m devastated. Your Thai cauliflower wings will live rent free in my head. Best vegan restaurant in Charlotte”
Danni Jenae continued the theme. “What vegan place am I supposed to go to when I visit Charlotte. I really want to cry. Where am I going to get my cauliflower wings now? This was my happy place.”
Even a competitor noted the loss. “We’re sad to hear that. A loss for Charlotte,” fellow vegan restaurant Santuary Bistro posted.
“This is devastating. We are losing the plant based community one by one,” she said.
Former Plant Joy owner Julia Simon told CharlotteFive earlier this year that restaurants in general are at risk — not just vegan ones — with factors such as high food costs and rising wages turning up the pressure.
However, a few new plant-based restaurants have come along, as well. Soul Miner’s Garden replaced Plant Joy at its Camp North End stall, and newcomer Mike’s Vegan Grill opened earlier this year in University City.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0