Boston-based vegetarian eatery Clover Meals Lab goes out of enterprise. The corporate is closing all of its remaining places in Massachusetts after at the moment, Thursday, Could 28.
Clover ran brick-and-mortar eating places, kiosks inside Entire Meals places, a catering enterprise, and a meal field supply service. It has a couple of dozen places.
The corporate was based by MIT grad Ayr Muir in 2008, first as a meals truck parked close to MIT’s campus in Cambridge.
Recognized for its farm-fresh substances and regionally sourced menu, the fast-casual eatery had constructed a following throughout the higher Boston space for 17 years.
The menu featured vegetarian fare like chickpea fritters, crispy Brussels sprouts, and mushroom popper sandwiches.
Closure had been within the works
Clover filed a Employee Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) discover on March 30, 2026. In keeping with the discover, 182 workers might be affected by the restaurant’s closure, efficient Could 29.
The federal authorities requires corporations with 50 or extra workers to submit a WARN discover at the least 60 days earlier than a layoff or closure. Massachusetts requires companies with 50 or extra workers to file a WARN discover.
Clover had beforehand filed for Chapter 11 chapter safety in late 2023. Nevertheless, the corporate emerged from chapter in 2024 after restructuring and shutting a few of its eating places.
On March 31, Boston.com reported that Clover was in search of a purchaser and had filed the WARN discover to adjust to state legislation in case a sale fell by means of.
“We’re optimistic that Clover will proceed to serve our regionally sourced farm-to-table quick meals in our firm’s subsequent chapter,” the corporate mentioned.
Clover’s CEO cites rising prices
In a message posted on the company’s website, CEO Julia Wrin Piper introduced that Thursday could be Clover’s last day of each restaurant service and meal field supply.
“Now we have some troublesome information to share: Clover might be closing our doorways this week,” she wrote.
“For 17 years, we have now championed native farms and served tens of 1000’s throughout Higher Boston,” the assertion continued. “We’re deeply saddened to share this information—for our workers, New England farmers, and also you, our visitors and supporters.”
Piper attributed the closure to monetary pressures stemming from COVID-19’s aftermath and inflation all through its provide chain.
She famous that the native farmers with whom the restaurant partnered had been navigating related pressures. The corporate mentioned ingredient prices have risen 30 to 50% over the previous two years alone.
To offset rising prices, Clover raised costs however acknowledged there was a restrict to how a lot it may cost prospects.
“Each one among you is probably going eager about the way you save and spend proper now, too,” Piper wrote.
Plenty of smaller retail chains have abruptly closed in current months, together with Painted Tree Boutiques, a craft and residential decor retailer modeled in the style of Etsy, which shut down all of its places in April. Late final yr, the founding father of Sprinkles Cupcakes, identified for its cupcake ATMs, announced that each one places would shutter.
