Soul Sandwich on Monmouth Street in Red Bank has closed

Soul Sandwich, which for three years served soups, sandwiches and more from a small alleyway restaurant off busy Monmouth Street in Red Bank, has closed.

Owner Steve DeAngelo shared news of the closure on social media.

"It is with a very heavy heart that I announce that Soul Sandwich is permanently closed," he wrote. "While this is not what I had hoped for, I have explored every option to reopen and it’s simply not possible."

The restaurant, at 30 Monmouth St., had been closed for repairs since mid-August.

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DeAngelo took over the tiny restaurant, previously That Hot Dog Place, from owner Gary Sable in 2019.

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"I was a longtime customer. I used to bring him in stuff that I cooked at home," DeAngelo told The Asbury Park Press that fall. When it came time for Sable to retire, "I got to be the guy," he said.

Soul Sandwich is the second Red Bank food business to close recently. The Cheese Cave, which opened in 2011, closed in late August.

DeAngelo will continue to cook through his catering company, Soul Patrol Event Catering.

He encouraged people to support small businesses, "otherwise this will just keep happening," he said.

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Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, and for more Jersey Shore food news, subscribe to our weekly Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ restaurants: Soul Sandwich in Red Bank has closed