Recent metro Phoenix restaurant closings include an 18-year-old family run bistro

December was a month of abundant openings, and closings were few and far between. However, we did end the year saying goodbye to some well-loved spots.

Two husband-and-wife owned restaurants shuttered; one after 18 years and the other after more than 9 years. Other closures included a pub that shuttered without warning and two new downtown ventures that closed after less than a year. One was a flashy new cocktail bar and the other was a taco shop that opened in a space with a history of restaurant closures.

Here's a look at the restaurants and bars that closed recently in metro Phoenix.

Dos Pink (Formerly Dos Pink Tacos)

Dos Pink's owners put a video on Instagram on Dec. 7 to announce that their vegan restaurant was closing after a year. The restaurant's last day was Dec. 23rd.

"As the property takes a new path, it’s not goodbye forever!" They invited the fans to reach out for catering requests and to keep an eye out for them at events.

The historic bungalow at 719 E. Roosevelt St. previously housed Ay, Chabela, which was open for less than one month in 2022. Before that, it was Chez Gregory, a wine bar that also lasted for less than a year at the space.

Fuego Bistro

Fuego Bistro at the Clarendon Hotel in Phoenix closed its doors on Dec. 16 after 18 years. The husband-and-wife-owned restaurant first opened in 2006 and moved into the Clarendon in 2020. The Latin American restaurant announced its closure in a Dec. 9 Facebook post: "We are so grateful for everyone's patronage over the past decade(s)."

According to Alexandra Rizk, CEO of PHG Properties, the company that owns Clarendon, the hotel, is working on plans for a new concept for the space.

Mug N' Shot

This Gilbert gastropub closed without warning. The Instagram account is no longer available, and fans who asked about the closure on the pub's last Facebook post, writing: "Are you permanently closed?", were not answered. Similar questions were asked on Instagram. Attempts to reach the owners were unsuccessful. A drive-by confirmed the pub was closed.

Parrish's

Parrish's, a family-owned restaurant located at the corner of Warner and Mountain roads, opened in 2019 and closed at the end of December. The owners announced the eatery's closure in a Facebook post dated Dec. 28 in which they apologized for the short notice "as we are figuring out how to properly shut everything down," and thanked the customers for their support. "We did our best to bring a place for our community to come together and dine."

Peacock Wine and Book Bar

An Instagram post dated Dec. 29th announced that Peacock Wine Bar in Gilbert "will be closed until further notice" due to "an unfortunate accident to our storefront." The same post invited fans to be on the lookout for more updates.

Piccolo Virtu

Piccolo Virtu — the baby sister restaurant to Virtu Honest Craft, chef Gio Osso's iconic Scottsdale Italian restaurant and 2014 James Beard Award nominee for "Best New Restaurant" — closed after a year in business. Piccolo Virtu's last day was Dec. 9. Osso sold the business to another restaurant owner, but declined to share the name.

Southern Rail

Southern Rail, a restaurant located next to Changing Hands bookstore, run by chef Justin Beckett, his wife Michelle, and partners Scott and Katie Stephens, closed after nine and a half years. According to the post, a new local independent restaurant group is taking over the Southern Rail space and plans to announce details in early 2024.

The restaurant owners made the announcement via Facebook on Dec. 21, letting customers know that the restaurant would shutter on Dec. 23.

"We are honored to have fed you and nourished you. We loved having the opportunity to introduce you to special signature southern recipes, magical bottles of Arizona wine and outstanding bourbons, as well as connecting you to our local purveyors and farmers."

Teddy's Preserve

Teddy’s Preserve, an indoor-outdoor bar that was opened in February 2023 by the owners of Rough Rider in downtown Phoenix, has closed after 10 months. According to an Instagram post, dated Dec. 17, Teddy's closed to "make way for new ownership and a new concept set to open in early 2024."

The cocktail bar was meant to be a sunny counterpart to the dark, moody basement bar Rough Rider, though still inspired by the former president, specifically Roosevelt's national parks legacy. The owners leveled the parking lot and planted trees to provide a view for the airy space. “But it was a really rough summer and after the remodel it just never recovered financially,” said co-owner Kyla Hein in a statement to The Republic.

The 10 most shocking closures: in metro Phoenix this year included restaurants new and old

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix restaurants that closed in December — one after 18 years