A popular vegan restaurant chain in California announced it was closing up shop after it added meat to the menu last year.
Sage Regenerative Kitchen, formerly known as Sage Plant Bistro & Brewery, once had locations across California but after struggling financially, it shuttered its doors on Sunday after 14 years.
Owner Mollie Engelhart told Eater it was a “sad victory” for the vegans who came out to protest the restaurant’s decision last year to start serving non-vegan fare including bison burgers and cheese in an effort to draw in more customers.
Rent and taxes were the biggest hurdles for Engelhart and her husband and co-owner Elias Sosa, who not only opted to add meat and cheese but also sold their home to put money back into the restaurants in an attempt to revive the business, Eater reported.
The meat and cheese was all grown with regenerative farming methods, which are intended to have less environmental impact than traditional farming — but vegan diners weren’t happy about it.
“I thought maybe we could merge these two things, my restaurants and my passion for regenerative agriculture, and come to some new pathway,” Engelhart told the outlet.
But not only did it fail to draw in new customers, Sage also upset its existing clientele which had many serving the eatery up one-star reviews online.
“Will never eat here now that they serve meat,” one person wrote on Yelp. “I’m sure y’all lost a lot of your vegan base when you added meat. Disgraceful.”
Another added: “I brought all my friends there to have meals and it was a safe and delicious place for Vegans. You’ve turned on your core roots and the animals in a way that is so disappointing.”
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The restaurant announced its closing with a final Instagram post, which many vegans took great delight in.
“Over the past 14 years, their unwavering commitment to quality food and supporting local farmers has been the heartbeat of our restaurant,” it continued,” Sage’s post read.
“One year ago, we faced tremendous challenges and they made the difficult decision to sell their home in hopes of breathing new life into Sage,” it continued.
“We all poured our passion into shifting the concept to regenerative agriculture, but despite our efforts, we find ourselves in the same predicament today.”
While some were sad to see the restaurant close, many others called it karma for “playing the victim card” and becoming a “butcher shop posing as a restaurant.”
PETA wrote in a comment under the post, “LA’s first and LAST regenerative kitchen. Serving humane-washed meat, dairy, and eggs under the sham of ‘regenerative farming’ betrayed animals, the planet, and kind customers who weren’t duped by your cruel choices.”
Another commenter remarked, “My favorite memory is when compassion and ethics were on the menu.”
A third noted: “We said goodbye to Sage already. Bummer dead animals didn’t bring y’all enough money to stay open.”