Too bad for the owners and Menlo Park, everyone loses. No sales tax, employees let go, vacant buildings. WOW, hopefully the city will be more business friendly than they have been for new tenants. Case in point, vacant auto dealerships on El Camino, Gateway office project, vacant movie theater etc. Granted the city was not responsibile for their business failure, how many hoops did these and other people have to go through just to open a business here ?? Too many I am sure.

It is disappointing to see interesting businesses fail. This one was in a difficult location, and clearly its timing was unfortunate in this difficult economy.
It is totally inappropriate to blame the city for the long list of potential projects "disappointed" lists. Except for the auto dealerships that failed when American car companies did not pay attention to the marketplace, the others were proposals that sought major changes to city zoning rules, and even the city's general plan.

Retail businesses do not have city hoops to open their business. Retail uses are permitted by right. Downtown, most of the business failures are due to greedy landlords raising rents.

I'm really sad to see this go - it was delicious, had a wonderful selection, and the people I met there were incredibly welcoming. I hoe they reopen in a better location.