A well-liked California vegan restaurant chain introduced it was shutting its doorways after years of monetary struggles — however the remaining nails within the coffin got here from indignant vegans who started attacking the corporate when it put meat on the menu.
Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery will shut Sunday after 14 years, a transfer its proprietor Mollie Engelhart informed Eater was a “unhappy victory” for the vegans who got here out in droves to protest the eatery’s resolution to begin serving bison burgers, cheese and different non-vegan fare in an effort to attract in new clients.
Whereas the restaurant, with places in Echo Park and Pasadena, was one among California’s most beloved plant-based bistros, it had struggled with hire and taxes for a while. Then, final yr, Engelhart and her husband and co-owner Elias Sosa offered their house to place a reimbursement into the corporate in an effort to revive it, based on Eater.
In Might 2024, Sage added meat and cheese to its vegan menu. Engelhart mentioned it was all grown with regenerative farming strategies, which are supposed to have much less environmental impression than conventional farming.
“I assumed possibly we might merge these two issues, my eating places and my ardour for regenerative agriculture, and are available to some new pathway,” Engelhart informed the outlet.
The change, nonetheless, failed to attract in new clients. And it upset present vegan diners.
Livid vegans review-bombed the restaurant with one-star critiques.
“Won’t ever eat right here now that they serve meat. I’m positive y’all misplaced a whole lot of your vegan base once you added meat. Disgraceful,” one reviewer mentioned on Yelp.
“I introduced all my pals there to have meals and it was a protected and scrumptious place for Vegans. You’ve turned in your core roots and the animals in a means that’s so disappointing,” one other reviewer mentioned.
When Sage introduced it was closing with a submit on its Instagram account, many vegans responded with delight.
The highest touch upon the submit, from animal rights group PETA, slammed the chain, writing: “LA’s first and LAST regenerative kitchen. Serving humane-washed meat, dairy, and eggs below the sham of ‘regenerative farming’ betrayed animals, the planet, and sort clients who weren’t duped by your merciless decisions.”
One other critic chimed in: “It is a nice day for animals. One much less butcher store posing as a restaurant on the town.”
Others commented that the closure was “karma” for turning their again on animals — and their former clientele.
“That is what occurs once you betray the animals and your buyer base. Stop taking part in the sufferer card,” one particular person wrote.
Whereas many had been unhappy to see the restaurant go, most commenters nonetheless had arduous emotions over the menu change, with one particular person noting, “We mentioned goodbye to Sage already. Bummer lifeless animals didn’t deliver y’all sufficient cash to remain open.”
In the meantime, others merely joked, “Don’t fear, the restaurant will regenerate.”
