Clever Bottle actually closed in late February and I've mourned it greatly ever since. I hope the owner decides to come back again somewhere downtown soon - she's fantastic, and really knows how to make a place with a great atmosphere (not to mention excellent cocktails). We miss you, Clever Bottle!

Jesus, how can the tuna possibly survive this holocaust?

I like the former pot shop location though. Toke'n'poke?

Young American's last night was yesterday, according to their facebook....

These places closed for the simple reason of......People not liking the food,price of said food. Or, Both.

Landlords are pricing retail leases at absurd levels now and restaurants can't survive. You can't pay out 35% of gross sales towards occupancy costs and remain in business. And tenant turnover doesn't really hurt landlords anymore because the economic value of the building is no longer tied to the cash flows from the tenants.

This is speculation on par with the housing crisis.

If I'd realized Young American was still a Maria Hines restaurant, I would've tried it, and I didn't even realize Dot's had reopened after their Fremont location closed. Two missed opportunities due to simple misunderstanding.

What @5 said.

Lots of empty retail restaurant space sitting vacant in many neighborhoods due to landlord greed.