These 28 Treasure Coast restaurants closed in 2023
Editor's note: The story has been updated to correct that Joy's Ice Cream closed in Port St. Lucie, not Fort Pierce.
At least 28 restaurants on the Treasure Coast closed this year. Here's a list and some of their stories.
The Whistle Stop
The Whistle Stop restaurant in Port Salerno closed in January after over 18 years. Owners Paul and Nora McGovern, who opened the restaurant across from the Manatee Pocket in 2004, retired to spend more time with their grandchildren. The new restaurant kept favorites from the former menu, such as “Paul’s Famous Whistle Stop Philly.” Read the full story.
Mr. Manatee's Casual Grille
Mr. Manatee's Casual Grille at Royal Palm Pointe in Vero Beach closed in April. Owner Patrick Tomassi said he was retiring and sold the business. He bought the restaurant in 2016, but it had four or five owners since it opened in the 1980s. A chop house and seafood restaurant has opened in the location. Read the full story.
Sonny's BBQ (2 locations)
Sonny's BBQ, an iconic Florida barbecue restaurant chain, left Martin and St. Lucie counties. The Stuart location closed in March after it opened in 1983, and the Fort Pierce location closed in April after it opened in 1988. The Port St. Lucie restaurant closed in 2015. Only the Vero Beach restaurant remains open. Read the full story.
The Catfish House
The Catfish House in Hobe Sound closed in June after 70 years after its latest owners retired. The restaurant was known for its Lake Okeechobee bone-in "little ones." The original owner ran it for over 30 years, the next one for over 10 years, and the last ones for over 25 years. A new restaurant moved there in September from its previous location. Read the full story.
Southern Social
Southern Social in downtown Vero Beach closed in September after seven years. The restaurant was a hit when it opened in 2016, but the quality declined after it was sold to a group of owners. The new owner opened a late-night restaurant there in November. Read the full story.
19th Hole Virtual Golf Bar and Grill
The short-lived 19th Hole Virtual Golf Bar and Grill in Vero Beach closed in September after less than six months in business. The restaurant was run by executive chef Brent Blaha, who had created an eclectic "soup to nuts" menu with upscale bar food, salads, sandwiches, tacos, wings, pasta, steak, seafood and American classic comfort food. Read the full story.
Village Beach Market
The short-lived Village Beach Market in downtown Fort Pierce closed in September after only three weeks. The owner of the cafe and grocery store cited a one-two punch of unexpectedly slower sales and higher equipment costs. Read the full story.
Seaway Smokehouse & Tillman's Famous Barbecue
Seaway Smokehouse in Fort Pierce, which served Tillman’s Famous Barbecue, closed in October, as well as the food truck that served the barbecue that's been on the Treasure Coast since 1991. The corner-lot restaurant had outdoor seating, limited indoor seating, a drive-thru for takeout orders and a smoker that often blanketed the area with the smell of barbecue. Read the full story.
Cork'd Wine Bar
Cork'd Wine Bar in downtown Jensen Beach closed in October after just over a year. It used to feature a popular monthly drag brunch and nightly live performances and events. Read the full story.
New England Fish Market & Restaurant
The 42-year-old New England Fish Market & Restaurant closed its Palm City location at the end of October but will keep its Jensen Beach location open for now as its owner approaches retirement. It originally opened as just a fish market on the Indian River Lagoon but grew with a takeout window and later became a sit-down restaurant. Read the full story.
Arturo’s American Grill
Arturo’s American Grill in Vero Beach closed in October. It had a sports bar and outdoor patio for karaoke parties. A new restaurant is replacing it with a menu that combines Latin and Southern cuisines. Read the full menu.
OTHER RESTAURANTS THAT CLOSED
Vero Beach
Flat Dog Diner
Fort Pierce
Checkers
Sushi Go
Port St. Lucie
Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries
Pastaio Handmade Pasta & Pizza
Jensen Beach
Alberto’s Pizza
The Original Pancake House
Stuart
Aunt D's Diner
Modern Juice Co.
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: These 28 Treasure Coast restaurants closed in 2023
