Upscale Mexican restaurant to close this weekend – Blaming finances as the main reason
Oakland’s vibrant restaurant landscape will undergo a shift this weekend with the permanent closure of Calavera, an esteemed Mexican fine-dining establishment. Located at 2337 Broadway in the Uptown district, Calavera will serve its final customary dinner service beginning at 5:00 p.m. from Tuesday, January 2nd, until its closure on Saturday, January 6th, as communicated via the restaurant’s official Instagram page.
Here they wrote: ‘The time has come to say goodbye. Calavera will be closing its doors this Saturday, January 6, 2024. This is not the way we wanted the new year to start, however, we have made the more than difficult decision to shut our doors. As you all know, the state of Oakland hasn’t been kind to small businesses—with less foot traffic and severely decreased sales, we cannot continue on.’
This New Year’s Day announcement adds Calavera to a growing list of recent departures from the Oakland culinary scene. The beloved pizzeria Sister succumbed to financial challenges, culminating in their final service scheduled for January 27th. Similarly, Lena’s Soul Food, a cherished Oakland institution renowned for its delectable fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and baked fish, shuttered its doors permanently on Christmas Eve.
Calavera’s closure signifies a significant loss for Oakland’s culinary scene. The restaurant garnered acclaim for its upscale and innovative interpretations of Mexican cuisine that was hard to match elsewhere.
