Editor’s note: Nosh covers food and restaurant news across the East Bay, and each week we publish one article covering all the restaurant openings and one article covering closings. Have a tip for Nosh? Submit it here.
Hella Coastal
When Korean-inspired taproom Dokkaebier shuttered at the end of December, Hella Coastal — which operated out of the same building — also went down with the ship. Known for its Bay-inspired brews, like the Ice City pilsner and the Coastal Flow IPA, Hella Coastal’s closure marks a period of uncertainty for the local craft beer scene that faced more closures last year since its initial boom.
Mario Benjamin, Hella Coastal’s cofounder, told Nosh in an email that it’s difficult to gauge whether a reopening is viable. “All of the smaller craft breweries are trying to figure it out considering the limited availability of capital and resources while the bigger players can afford a pivot strategy,” he said. “As much traction and notoriety we were receiving, it didn’t really translate into something sustainable.” Hella Coastal was located at 420 3rd St. in Oakland.
Mr. Cupbob Korean Bistro
A reader let us know that Mr. Cupbob, a fast-casual Berkeley restaurant specializing in rice bowls and Korean BBQ in a cup, has closed. The restaurant has been cleared out, and it appears an eviction notice was put on the door. Mr. Cupbob was located at 2126 Center Street in Berkeley.
The CRO Café
Temescal Alley’s compact coffee shop, The CRO Café, has shuttered temporarily, as confirmed by owner Luigi Oldani (and a few heartbroken Reddit users.) The tiny café was a cute outpost for lavender lattes, mochas and pastries, but it’s not goodbye forever — Oldani, who is relocating with his family to Napa, plans to sell the business and is looking for new ownership for a future reopening. The CRO Café was located in Alley 49 in Oakland.
