Two beloved Manhattan eateries, each with a history spanning roughly a quarter of a century, are set to close their doors this month. The respected French Brasserie, Rue 57, in Midtown is already closed, and the cherished Ethiopian restaurant Queen of Sheba in Hell's Kitchen has announced it will cease operations by April 26, according to report by Eater.
These closures come as New York City's restaurant industry continues to grapple with economic pressures, including rising costs for goods, impending tariffs, inflation causing consumers to cut back on spending, and the increasing expenses for rent and insurance. Rue 57, which used to be a hotspot with its 300 seats and outdoor dining area, had to shutter after failing to get their lease renewed. Meanwhile, Queen of Sheba's owner, Philipos Mengistu, cites a slowdown in business, particularly since December, as the driving cause behind the restaurant's imminent demise. Mengistu told W42ST, "We didn’t want to close, but after December it was really shaky," citing cold weather and congestion pricing as factors deterring customers and inflating costs.
Rue 57, once music and club venue Motown Cafe before being transformed into the bustling Brasserie, has been a part of the New York dining scene since its opening in 2000. Its closure not only signifies the end of a landmark but also the loss of employment for around 60 workers. Queen of Sheba's situation is similarly distressing as it prepares to leave behind its legacy introduced to New Yorkers in 2001. Eater notes Queen of Sheba as a foremost Ethiopian restaurant, offering affordable meals and serving as a cultural gateway for the city.
Queen of Sheba's owner, Mengistu—who immigrated from Ethiopia in the 1990s—has expressed both a profound love for his job and the toll that running a restaurant for decades has taken. "I have to rest for a while, I have to take a deep breath," he told W42ST, acknowledging the unrelenting demands of his restaurant career. He also spoke of the transformative journey Hell’s Kitchen has undergone since the establishment’s early days, evolving from a neighborhood with few notable attractions to one bustling with life and commerce.
As these two establishments wind down their operations, diners have until April 26 to experience the warmth and culinary delights of Queen of Sheba. The restaurant, known for its signature dishes like doro tibs and a vegetarian option named after Sheba itself, as well as the tradition of consuming meals without utensils and over injera, has won the hearts and stomachs of New Yorkers for years. Customers have lauded the restaurant, with patrons like Charliss Retif saying, "Walk through a door and end up in Ethiopia," and Sam Neuman enthusing over his approximately 500 visits and a professed love for the Ethiopian staple dishes, as reported by W42ST.
