Celebrities Loved This NYC Restaurant - Now It's Closed Forever

Times have been rough for the restaurant industry over the past few years, with plenty of well-appreciated restaurant chains facing bankruptcy. Sometimes, these struggling eateries can be saved, perhaps by restaurant brands merging into a single entity like Applebee's and IHOP. Unfortunately, there aren't always effective solutions, and even iconic establishments have been forced to shut their doors. This domino effect of closures started during the pandemic. According to the National Restaurant Association, almost 100,000 restaurants closed within six months of the pandemic's start, accounting for a roughly 17% reduction to the size of the industry. Many restaurants still feel the impact five years later, and price spikes for food in 2025 haven't helped the situation.

Despite this environment and the plethora of closures, faithful diners were stunned when the iconic Cafe Un Deux Trois announced its closure in an Instagram post. Located on West 44th Street in New York City near Times Square, Cafe Un Deux Trois opened in 1977 with authentic French cuisine by French natives Gérard Blanes and Georges Guenancia. For nearly 50 years, the restaurant served celebrities, playwrights, dancers, actors, Broadway entertainment reviewers, and theatergoers, but its storied history came to an end on January 3, 2026. According to interviews and social media, the decision to close largely stemmed from changing market conditions in the restaurant sector, though the owners also seemed to prioritize upholding their own values when it came to running their business.

In its closure announcement on Instagram, the restaurant didn't cite specific reasons for why its doors were closing. However, while thanking long-time manager Randy St. Louis for nearly three decades of hard work, the post did mention the challenges caused by the evolution of both industry trends and local culture. In an interview given by Guenancia with W42ST, he said that people just didn't return to the restaurant in sufficient numbers after the pandemic. While reflecting on how a combination of hybrid workplaces and a culture that prioritizes fast-paced efficiency over ambiance and the dining experience slowed the restaurant's performance, he simply stated, "There's no chance to keep a business that loses money every day."

Lots of loyal customers have expressed their admiration for the restaurant to news outlets and on social media. Many commenters on Instagram reflected that they and their loved ones have visited the restaurant regularly for decades. It's likely due to this loyal base of regulars that Cafe Un Deux Trois managed to last for another five years after the pandemic, but it also seems that the restaurateurs wanted to go out on their own terms. As Guenancia noted to PIX11, "I'm happy the way it's ending because a lot of people are here. We did a good job. We had a big clientele."