LOS ANGELES RESTAURANT SHUTTERS AFTER 14 YEARS, DESPITE EFFORTS TO shift to regenerative agriculture
Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery, a restaurant in Echo Park, Los Angeles, has announced its closure after 14 years in business. The restaurant started as a vegan establishment but transitioned to offering meat and dairy options last year. The restaurant’s owner, Mollie Engelhart, and her husband, Elias Sosa, took to Instagram to share the news, stating that despite their efforts to shift to regenerative agriculture, they still found themselves struggling.
The move to add animal products to the menu sparked heated protests and online backlash, with some customers defending the restaurant and others calling the decision a “betrayal” of vegan values. A protest on Father’s Day in 2024 was so severe that the restaurant was forced to shut down early.
The closing of Sage has elicited mixed reactions from the public, with some expressing sympathy for the business and others declaring it a “victory for the animals.” Engelhart spoke with Fox News Digital last year about the challenges of making the menu change, stating that while she was adding animal products, she was committed to using natural and sustainable practices.
The Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery team, including Engelhart and her husband, co-owned the restaurant and sold their home in the hopes of infusing new life into the business. The closing of the restaurant marks the end of an era for the iconic LA eatery.
