11 Shuttered Berkeley Establishments Cal Alumni Still Cry Over
Every Cal graduate was once a UC Berkeley student with preferred watering holes and places to grab a quick bite to eat. Time, however, has changed the foodscape around Berkeley. Many of these old haunts are no longer in business. Here are eleven shuttered Berkeley establishments that alumni still cry over.
Campus Eats
Caffe Mediterraneum

Caffe Mediterraneum opened its doors in 1957 to generations of Berkeley’s finest. The cafe’s patrons included poet Allen Ginsberg; activists protesting during the Free Speech Movement and at anti-Vietnam War protests; members of the Black Panther Party; and actor Dustin Hoffman in the film The Graduate. Owner Craig Becker passed the lease to a group of restaurant owners, but not before he hosted a send-off which included guests like Berkeley mayor and Cal graduate Jesse Arreguín ’07. Caffe Mediterraneum closed in January 2017.
Crepes A-Go-Go

Fun fact: Founder and owner of Crepes A-Go-Go, Linda Gilman, began selling crepes in the Bay Area in the early 1990s from a food truck. She opened Crepes Ooh La La on University Avenue in 1994 before expanding to Telegraph Avenue with Crepes A-Go-Go. The location on Telegraph served UC Berkeley students affordable, fresh crepes with both savory and sweet options, including one named after Gilman’s son called “The King ‘Lias.” Students appreciated Crepes A-Go-Go not just for its convenient location close to campus and its $6 crepes, but also its speedy service that allowed them to get to class right on Berkeley time. Crepes A-Go-Go closed in April 2016.
Smart Alec’s Intelligent Food

Since 1996, UC Berkeley students knew to save their A-graded papers and exams to bring to Smart Alec’s for a bag of free, air-baked fries. Students without As still frequented Smart Alec’s for their affordable, healthy food offerings including salads, soups, and sandwiches. Founder Alex Popov sold Smart Alec’s in 2010 while he continued to oversee Pappy’s Grill. Due to rent increases and competition, Smart Alec’s new owner decided to close, but Popov reassures students that Pappy’s will continue to serve some of Smart Alec’s favorite selections—like its cornbread. Smart Alec’s closed in November 2016.
Pubs and Bars
Beckett’s Irish Pub and Restaurant

Martin and Mary Connolly opened Beckett’s in 2001, back when the building was being rehabilitated. The bar didn’t just offer drinks; it also hosted regular live music performances where students and locals gathered and formed a community. The Connollys ultimately decided to close Beckett’s, not because there was a lack of customers, but because the space was too large for their needs. Beckett’s Irish Pub and Restaurant closed in February 2011.
Brennan’s Restaurant
John Brennan opened the iconic Brennan’s Restaurant back in 1959, and before the restaurant’s closing in 2018, his granddaughter Margaret Wade was the third generation of their family to own the restaurant. Wade ultimately made the decision to close because of rising rent prices, citing decreasing numbers of people who drink as much as they did in the 70s and warmer winters that kept patrons from craving their classic, heavy meat-and-potatoes dishes. Up to Brennan’s closing day, locals went to enjoy the sports bar and the most famous Irish coffee in the East Bay. Brennan’s Restaurant closed in September 2018.

Restaurants
The Blue Nile
Seyoum Kebede opened The Blue Nile in Berkeley in 1982, just two years after he opened the restaurant’s first location in Oakland. The original Blue Nile was the Bay Area’s first Ethiopian restaurant and quickly became the gathering spot for the Ethiopians living in the area. Students in Berkeley loved The Blue Nile, and alumni who remained in the area continued to patron the restaurant for years. Most notably, the restaurant was known for its rich tej honey wine, which many have failed to find elsewhere since the restaurant’s closing. Based on Yelp reviews, The Blue Nile closed in January 2007.
Oscar’s

In 1950, Oscar’s began serving burgers, fries, and other standard diner food to the Berkeley community. Students and professors alike frequented the reliable restaurant, where little changed during its 65 years of service. It was founded by a family who never chose to share their names, but carried on for one generation before they decided to close their business. Oscar’s closed in November 2015.
Cafes
Sufficient Grounds

For 30 years, Sufficient Grounds served UC Berkeley students from its Sather Lane location with sandwiches served on housemade, one-of-a-kind bread. Many students were regulars and frequented the shop from their first to last year at Cal. The Daily Californian readers even voted Sufficient Grounds as “Best Sandwich” in the Best of Berkeley awards in 2001, 2009, and 2010. Owner Anthony Tasoulinh said his decision to close his shop was driven largely by the rising rent prices and declining revenue. Alumni still report that they miss the bread. Sufficient Grounds closed in April 2010.
The Beanery
The Beanery was frequented not just by Elmwood community members, but also Cal students and professors who spent many hours studying and writing in the cafe. While The Beanery still has storefronts in San Francisco and Alameda, its Berkeley location on College Avenue was sold after 18 years. Co-owner Sima Navaie sold the cafe because she wanted to dedicate more time to her family. Navaie and her husband, however, chose carefully when they sold their business, ensuring that Organic Greens, which would take over the location, would fill the needs of their loyal customers and community. The Beanery closed in February 2018.
Sweets
Ici’s

Many freshmen at Berkeley will always remember fondly riding the 51B from their dorm down College Avenue to stand in a line that stretched several storefronts, to get their first taste of a Berkeley classic. Ici Ice Cream opened in September 2006. Founder Mary Canales had finished a nine-year tenure as pastry chef at Chez Panisse and was looking to create her own place, where she could express greater creativity with her food. For all 12 years of Ici’s time at Berkeley, the store was known for its fresh ingredients, rotating daily flavors, and homemade waffle cones. Ici’s closed in November 2018.
Virginia Bakery
The Virginia Bakery many Berkeley alumni came to know and love began in 1954, when Charles and Dorothy Erdmann bought the location from its previous owners (the Poechel family, who had owned the bakery location since 1925). After Charles’s unexpected passing, the business was handed down to John Erdmann, one of the Erdmann’s sons, in 1976. After 42 years, John and his wife retired to spend more time with their families. Loyal customers—everyone from Berkeley students to Black Panther co-founder Huey Newton—will forever remember this mom-and-pop bakery for its beautifully decorated cakes and cookies. Virginia Bakery closed in April 2018.
These eleven establishments are only a handful of the restaurants that have closed their doors over the past couple of decades in Berkeley. If your favorites didn’t make it onto this list, please share them with us! You can also find a complete story about Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto from CALIFORNIA magazine.
Posted on January 2, 2019 - 11:22am
Comments
AM replied on Permalink
Fred Baron replied on Permalink
Richard Maas replied on Permalink
Phil Miller replied on Permalink
LER replied on Permalink
Mary replied on Permalink
Erin replied on Permalink
Sara replied on Permalink
Phil Miller replied on Permalink
LER replied on Permalink
Jeff Jacobs replied on Permalink
Charlie replied on Permalink
courtney.cheng replied on Permalink
Ron replied on Permalink
GC replied on Permalink
Ron replied on Permalink
Bonnie Cediel replied on Permalink
Robert Sproul replied on Permalink
Robert Mccluskey replied on Permalink
Ed replied on Permalink
Hector replied on Permalink
Ed replied on Permalink
Eliot Smyrl replied on Permalink
Michael Caudy replied on Permalink
Tomas Ponce replied on Permalink
Bill Becker replied on Permalink
Miriam replied on Permalink
Miriam replied on Permalink
CS replied on Permalink
Craig Louis replied on Permalink
Bill Mitchell replied on Permalink
Dave Anthony replied on Permalink
Kathleen Clarke replied on Permalink
Eleanor replied on Permalink
Bob DuBois replied on Permalink
Joe Garrett replied on Permalink
Joe Garrett replied on Permalink
Joe Garrett replied on Permalink
Amy replied on Permalink
Jennie VH replied on Permalink
Pamela McCorduck replied on Permalink
Barry Hofeld ‘71 replied on Permalink
Susan replied on Permalink
Mike Schlesinger replied on Permalink
Martin replied on Permalink
Warren replied on Permalink
Betty Henry replied on Permalink
Joe Garrett replied on Permalink
Joe Garrett replied on Permalink
Warren replied on Permalink
Jim Woodfill replied on Permalink
Marc replied on Permalink
Joe Garrett replied on Permalink
Pat B. replied on Permalink
Pat B. replied on Permalink
Mary Haigwood replied on Permalink
Bob DuBois replied on Permalink
Blessedbethefruit replied on Permalink
Blessedbethefruit replied on Permalink
pts replied on Permalink
AJ replied on Permalink
Dr Daljit Singh replied on Permalink
Jennifer replied on Permalink
Sarah replied on Permalink
Winston replied on Permalink
Carolyn Hampton replied on Permalink
Irene replied on Permalink
Marty Takimoto replied on Permalink
Michael N. Escobar replied on Permalink
Allison replied on Permalink
Allison replied on Permalink
Andrew replied on Permalink
VANESSA BAILEY replied on Permalink
VANESSA BAILEY replied on Permalink
Niki Dettman replied on Permalink
Camille replied on Permalink
Joe Garrett replied on Permalink
Tom Cooper replied on Permalink
Melissa replied on Permalink
Francis replied on Permalink
Hee replied on Permalink
Joe Garrrett replied on Permalink
Joe Garrrett replied on Permalink
Cheryl replied on Permalink
Curt Kinchen replied on Permalink
Curt Kinchen replied on Permalink
Danielle Fox replied on Permalink
Roy Mayeda replied on Permalink
Ted Nishio replied on Permalink
Bruce Worrall replied on Permalink
Claudia Baker replied on Permalink
jj replied on Permalink
Nick S replied on Permalink
Anne replied on Permalink
Kathleen S replied on Permalink
Alumni79 replied on Permalink
Alumni79 replied on Permalink
Emma replied on Permalink
Janice Byer '76 replied on Permalink
James replied on Permalink
Jimmy Chew replied on Permalink
PhysicsBear replied on Permalink
Norma replied on Permalink
Guadalupe Ortiz replied on Permalink
Bruce Karney replied on Permalink
Rich replied on Permalink
Fotis Tsimboukakis replied on Permalink
Ben replied on Permalink
Dina Street replied on Permalink
Moi replied on Permalink
Bob DuBois replied on Permalink
Aubrey Beardsley replied on Permalink
Wes Branaman replied on Permalink
TW replied on Permalink
Rob replied on Permalink
Cathy Martinod replied on Permalink
Kevin MAGA Trump replied on Permalink
Amy Ambrose replied on Permalink
EK replied on Permalink
perk replied on Permalink
Mark Elliot replied on Permalink
David Bernstein replied on Permalink
David Bernstein replied on Permalink
Allan replied on Permalink
Christian Bernasconi replied on Permalink
Socrates Ramos replied on Permalink
Claudia replied on Permalink
Sue replied on Permalink
Maya replied on Permalink
Sharon Stout replied on Permalink
Eric replied on Permalink
Eric replied on Permalink
Maria Rico replied on Permalink
Dennis Morrell replied on Permalink
Dawn Matthews replied on Permalink
Steverino replied on Permalink
Tman replied on Permalink
Marie replied on Permalink
Joshua Englehart replied on Permalink
Just me replied on Permalink
Kris Sandoe replied on Permalink
Will Chandler, '72 replied on Permalink
Elizabeth Grainger replied on Permalink
Md replied on Permalink
art eckstein replied on Permalink
Joe Garrrett replied on Permalink
Earlyintake replied on Permalink
laurie replied on Permalink
Will Chandler, '72 replied on Permalink
craig replied on Permalink
Maryam Noorivaziri replied on Permalink
Steve replied on Permalink
James Branson replied on Permalink
Milton Chong replied on Permalink
Milton Chong replied on Permalink
Jane replied on Permalink
Mary tychly replied on Permalink
Gerry Wrixon replied on Permalink
Stan Koehn replied on Permalink
Debbie Dupire-Nelson replied on Permalink
Debbie Dupire-Nelson replied on Permalink
Ed replied on Permalink
Judi Anderson Slater replied on Permalink
Corbin replied on Permalink
KB replied on Permalink
KB replied on Permalink
KB replied on Permalink
Susan Allbee replied on Permalink
Mark Carlson replied on Permalink
David Nasatir replied on Permalink
Karen Baden replied on Permalink
Marnie replied on Permalink
P Doolan replied on Permalink
Bill replied on Permalink
MI replied on Permalink
Marilyn replied on Permalink
Jani, '68 replied on Permalink
Larry Lewis replied on Permalink
Amee Tsai replied on Permalink
Mc replied on Permalink
Henry H Wang replied on Permalink
Bill replied on Permalink
Bill Miller replied on Permalink
Joseph replied on Permalink
Will Chandler, '72 replied on Permalink
James Pommersheim replied on Permalink
Kimberly Sinclair replied on Permalink
Kimberly Sinclair replied on Permalink
Laliv Hadar replied on Permalink
Political Science 1979 replied on Permalink
Humaira replied on Permalink
Sonny Low replied on Permalink
Baron von Slam replied on Permalink
Suzanne Renne replied on Permalink
Suzanne Renne replied on Permalink
Suzanne Renne replied on Permalink
Robert Turner replied on Permalink
Anthony G Cutri replied on Permalink
Winston Wallace replied on Permalink
Darryl Schoon replied on Permalink
Pages
Add new comment