MCL Restaurant & Bakery's Arlington location in Irvington is set to close on March 29 after roughly 70 years as a neighborhood fixture, ending a long run of cafeteria-style comfort food on the east side. The news lands amid a recent wave of MCL shutdowns across the Midwest and has regulars and staff bracing for the loss.
East-side MCL Will Close March 29
A note posted on the restaurant's front door announces that the Arlington shop will shut its doors on March 29, after about seven decades in business, as reported by WIBC 93.1 FM. That report also notes that the company still lists other Indianapolis-area locations as open, while a Muncie Mall outlet is slated to close at month’s end because the mall itself is being demolished.
Closures Have Popped Up Across the Midwest
The chain's Springfield, Illinois, restaurant closed unexpectedly on Feb. 13, according to the Springfield Business Journal, and the MCL at The Meadows in Terre Haute announced March 15 as its last day, per reporting by The Tribune-Star. Those recent shutdowns have trimmed the chain’s footprint in the region in just a matter of weeks.
Long Run, Shrinking Footprint
MCL traces its roots to 1950 and bills itself as a family-run, cafeteria-style operation. The company's Indianapolis location page highlights "over 70 years" of serving Midwestern comfort food and lists the Arlington address at 6010 East 10th Street. While the MCL site still shows several Indiana and Ohio locations, the latest round of closures means fewer spots to find the chain’s pies and homestyle plates.
Customers and Staff Respond
Customers in the affected cities told reporters the closures felt sudden and left regulars sad. Springfield patrons described being surprised by the Feb. 13 shutdown, the Springfield Business Journal reports, and Terre Haute diners echoed that sentiment in The Tribune-Star coverage. Company officials have not publicly laid out a specific reason for the wave of closures, WIBC 93.1 FM notes, and requests for comment were directed to the chain’s Indianapolis office.
What to Watch Next
The Arlington location's last service day is scheduled for March 29. Customers who want the latest information are encouraged to check MCL's location page or call the restaurant for updates. We will follow up if the company offers an explanation or a plan for employees and customers after the closing.
