For many years, I followed a gluten-free lifestyle after a misdiagnosis of a wheat allergy.
Some restaurant chains, usually higher-end ones, offered gluten-free pastas and breads, while some even had extensive menus catering to people with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance.
When national chains added gluten-free products, however, it was almost always short-lived. Dunkin’, for example, briefly offered wrapped gluten-free doughnuts, but that only lasted for a few months. Many other chains followed a similar arc because, in reality, only a small percentage of people avoid gluten.
A higher-end restaurant has the option of charging enough money for a meal to make special accommodations. Fast-food chains generally operate on narrow margins with staff making less money, which makes doing anything special challenging.
The entire concept of fast food was built around uniformity, allowing for quick turnaround, so having to use special pans, clean the grill, or put on different gloves to handle a small percentage of business is not cost-efficient.
This same logic applies to vegan and vegetarian restaurants. These establishments cater to a tiny percentage of the public, about 6% when you combine vegan and vegetarian, according to a YouGov survey.
Tha’s why so many of them fail, and it explains why Amy’s Drive Thru is closing the final location in what was once a chain.
Vegan and vegetarian adults in the U.S.
- 3% Vegan
- 3% Vegetarian (not including vegan)
- 6% Vegetarian including vegan
Yes, it’s the Amy’s from the grocery store
Most people know the Amy’s name from the freezer section in the grocery store where the company sells a line of vegetarian frozen products. The company also operated a chain of drive-thru restaurants, but it will be closing the final Amy’s Drive Thru, according to a post on its Instagram page.
“After 10 incredible years, we’ve made the difficult decision to close Amy’s Drive Thru in Rohnert Park. Our last day will be March 8th, 2026,” it shared. “From day one, our mission was simple: to serve delicious, organic food that everyone could enjoy. As the first organic, vegetarian drive thru in the nation, we’ve shared countless meals, smiles, and memories with you — and that’s something we’ll always be proud of.”
The chain was a pioneer in the vegetarian space.
When Amy’s Drive Thru first opened, it became a bit of a national sensation, President Paul Schiefer told Nation’s Restaurant News during a 2023 interview.
“There was a buzzy piece to us being the first of our kind in the fast-food space,” Schiefer said, adding that it differentiated itself as an all-vegetarian, organic concept that sold items like burgers and pizzas, “not just sprouts and hummus.”
Amy’s is closing its final standalone restaurant.
Shutterstock
Vegetarian restaurants have struggled
Pablo Moleman, co-founder of the food awareness organization ProVeg, told NL Times that more vegetarian options at mainstream restaurants have hurt dedicated eateries.
“That decrease is actually because vegetarian food has become more normal,” he said. “Ordinary restaurants have fully embraced vegetarian dishes, and that’s led to a drop in market share for dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurants.”
More Restaurants
- Taco Bell and KFC work on simplifying their restaurants
- Chick-fil-A making major change to 425 restaurants nationwide
- Bankrupt beer and pizza restaurant chain closes locations
- Restaurant chain famed for rude waiters closes multiple locations
Bloomberg Law also made it clear that economics and a lack of customers have hurt as well.
“Vegan restaurants face hardships that often mirror those of nonvegan establishments, including rising rent and operating costs. But those challenges are compounded by a limited clientele and, in some locations, the high prices of plant-based protein alternatives like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods,” Bloomberg Law reported.
Vegan and vegetarian restaurant closures (2024-2026)
- Amy’s Drive Thru ends most locations: The organic vegetarian drive‑thru chain closed multiple California locations starting in 2024-25, and its last freestanding restaurant is set to close in March 2026, according to SFGATE.
- Upscale vegan chain Planta shutters Florida spots: Four large South Florida Planta vegan restaurants permanently closed amid parent company financial issues in mid‑2025, reported TheStreet.
- Kevin Hart’s Hart House vegan fast‑food closings: All Los Angeles‑area locations of the Hart House vegan fast‑food chain closed in September 2024, just two years after opening, according to Eater LA.
- Seabirds Kitchen (Long Beach) closes: Popular vegan restaurant Seabirds Kitchen in Long Beach shut down in September 2024 after seven years in business, added Eater LA.
- Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery exits: The formerly vegan restaurant in LA (once Sage Vegan Bistro & Brewery) permanently closed in January 2025 after 14 years, despite menu shifts, shared Eater LA.
- Giving Tree Cafe (Phoenix) shuts doors: The plant‑based Giving Tree Cafe announced its closure in late 2024 after five years of service, according to Phoenix New Times.
- Multiple small vegan joints in Chicago area: Chicago lost several vegan/vegetarian restaurants through late 2025, including closures at Native Foods Denver & DC area cuts and small community spots in late 2025, reported westword.com.
Amy’s Drive Thru: Key historical points
- First location opened in 2015: Amy’s Drive Thru launched its first vegetarian, organic drive‑thru restaurant in Rohnert Park, California, marking the company’s expansion from packaged foods into quick‑service dining, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
- Early airport and California expansions: After the original opening, the brand opened additional locations, including at San Francisco International Airport and other California sites, though these later closed amid operational challenges, added Nation’s Restaurant News.
- All other freestanding restaurants have closed: The Rohnert Park location, the chain’s first, is set to close on March 8, 2026, leaving only the airport location operational as of early 2026.
- Shift in business focus: With closures of the majority of Amy’s Drive Thru restaurants, the parent company is refocusing on its core business — selling vegetarian frozen and convenience foods nationally and internationally — while maintaining some restaurant presence, according to SFGATE.
Related: Iconic Chick-fil-A rival closed over 1,100 stores, no bankruptcy
