Bay Area Legacy Restaurant Closures and Small-Business Strain

Cook’s Seafood abruptly closed its 98-year-old Menlo Park location and newer Pleasanton location on October 28; a longtime employee reportedly learned by text, and the cause remains unknown. Square Pie Guys announced its Palo Alto closure for October 30, with the owner citing weak evening/weekend traffic and California Avenue’s car-free status as one factor. Track worker impacts and any explanation or reopening plans without assuming a single cause.