Nigel Parry—As the US death toll from the coronavirus pandemic exceeds a quarter of a million, with half a million likely dead by Spring, businesses that primarily function as gathering spaces are under threat like never before. Independent restaurants are particularly vulnerable. According to Yelp data from the end of August 2020, permanent restaurant closures have reached 97,966, representing 60% of closed businesses that will never reopen.

Writing in the San Francisco Business Times, Gwyneth Borden noted that “Restaurants represent 10% of the U.S. workforce, and independent full-service ones make up 55% of the industry’s employees and 63% of the wages.”

The double-whammy, of course, is that many members of the Lowertown community rely on these businesses for income, both as employees but also as artists and musicians who rely on physical spaces to host their public shows and performances.

Just/Us Eatery & Events

Of the 25 Lowertown food and drink establishments that existed before the pandemic, almost all are closed—some permanently—and every day brings more bad news. The latest place to make an announcement was Just/Us, the community restaurant, bar, and venue that occupied the former Golden’s Lowertown space.

Just/Us cofounder Mona Negasi posted news of their closure to the restaurant’s social media accounts on November 15th:

I usually speak in the third person and on behalf of the restaurant when posting but this one is a little more personal.

Mona Negasi. (Photo: Justin Hedstrom)

It’s been quite the journey for us here at just/us. We opened our first location at the end of 2017 and since then it’s been a lot of trying hours of both physical and emotional labor. From ripping up the shabby carpet and ancient asbestos tiles in the original space, to building out another space nearly five times that size two years later. Hundreds of tiles, chairs, plates, open mics, bands, beers, cocktails, scrapes, bruises, days and faces throughout this journey that we’ll never forget.

After being rooted out of our first location by money hungry developers, we managed to grow our small 30 heads a night, prix-fixe dinner operation into a 100 + capacity full bar/venue/restaurant in a new location.

None of us could’ve predicted we’d be facing a pandemic that would completely rock our industry just a few months later. After losing half of our original team of founders in March of 2019, those of us that still believed in what just/us could be stuck it out.

Ta-coumba working on a mural for Just/Us eatery & events. (Photo: Nigel Parry)

While our belief in just/us remains strong – the sacrifices we’ve had to make in order to survive COVID have made our vision in this location unattainable. In the name of more affordable rent, our investor (who now has controlling equity of this location) has agreed to a floor plan change with the landlord. If we are to reopen, we would be doing so without our beautiful custom built bar, without a dining area, without our one of a kind Ta’coumba Aiken mural, and without a venue.

This does not align with our vision for this venture and doesn’t even come close to resembling what we intended for this space to be. For these reasons and so many more, we’ve decided it’s best for us to walk away. What happens with this space in the future is out of our control, but we built the just/us namesake from scratch and intend to keep it. So please keep an eye out for what’s to come with just/us. As always, we’ve got a few irons in the fire.

Thank you for everything. Thank you to our community, our regulars and neighbors, to the folx who have been dining with us since the very beginning, our vendors, our STAFF, all of you. You’re the best humans and we love you.

The Dark Horse Bar & Eatery

Last month similarly saw the closure of the Dark Horse. On October 24th, the restaurant posted the following on its social media accounts:

WE’LL BE BACK!!

In an attempt to keep our business afloat, we will be closing our doors on October 31st with a goal of reopening in spring. We are choosing hibernation to prevent extinction. This has been a tough and exhausting time for everyone in hospitality. We’re proud of our team and thankful for their amazing work and dedication.

We’re also incredibly thankful for the support from everyone over these last 5 years. We’re humbled that you chose to spend your time with us. Please come down and raise a glass with us before our winter hibernation. 1/2 off all taps, all day (while they last) & our usual happy hour specials.

Lowertown SantaCon at the Dark Horse, December 2019. (Photo: Tom Dunn)

This is not goodbye, but until we see each other again. We will miss you. and look forward to partying with you in spring.

❤️ The Management Team at Dark Horse

In June, a few months after the pandemic began, the Green Lantern, Public Kitchen, and the Handsome Hog all shuttered, with the Hog relocating to Cathedral Hill. Similarly Perkelat closed in spring.

The Future

It is widely anticipated that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will announce new coronavirus pandemic restrictions today at 6pm, which will restrict restaurants and bars to only offering take-out, starting this Friday.

With the expected holiday surge of the pandemic resulting in an anticipated half a million deaths by spring, even summer openings feel like wishful thinking and a stimulus package looks like the only hope for the industry to survive the current plague.

Read the story of how Just/Us came to Lowertown

Read about the challenges Lowertown artists face during the coronavirus pandemic