WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — Even in a city that keeps building and keeps drawing crowds, not every restaurant survives.
Six dining spots have already closed in West Palm Beach this year. Some were fixtures for decades. Others never found their footing. All of them left a mark.
A 40-Year Community Staple Lost Its Lease
Oriental Food Market on S. Dixie Highway was a tiny Thai grocery store loved by this city for over 40 years. On March 1, it closed — not by choice, but because the landlord would not renew the lease. One loyal customer who grabbed the last two quarts of house-made kimchi summed it up: “You’ll never get this flavor and freshness again. This is a community restaurant.”
The BBQ Spot That Picked Its Battle
Tropical BBQ Market on Olive Avenue closed in March. Owner and pitmaster Rick Mace explained that their brand-new Delray Beach location was already outselling the three-year-old West Palm outlet. “We have a location that’s three years old and is still doing smaller sales volume than a store that’s three months old.” The energy had to follow the momentum.
Thirty Years of White Tablecloths — Gone
Morton’s The Steakhouse inside Phillips Point served its final meal on May 31 after more than 30 years. For decades it was the power lunch destination for West Palm Beach’s business and professional class. That era quietly closed with it.
CityPlace Lost Its Last Original
City Cellar shut down on May 24 after a 25-year run. Attorneys, judges, and deal-makers made it a daily habit. “If you wanted to know who was who around West Palm Beach, that’s where you went to lunch,” said co-owner Bill Watson.
A Clematis Street Icon Called It
Grease Burger Bar closed in mid-July after 17 years. Its massive house-ground burgers once landed on The Travel Channel. Fans of the place knew it was one of a kind.
Brooklyn Roots, Short Run
Juliana’s Pizza in the Nora District had ties to Grimaldi’s pizza legend Patsy Grimaldi himself. It opened in late 2025 and was gone by June 2026 — a victim of high prices, a too-large space, and bad timing.
West Palm Beach keeps moving forward. But these six closures are worth remembering.
Which one do you miss the most? Share your memories in the comments — this community deserves to hold onto them.