Joe's Restaurant to Close After a 24-Year Run in Venice

Joe's Restaurant, a 24-year icon in Venice, has decided to close its doors on Abbot Kinney at the end of February. Founded by chef Joe Miller as a Westside shrine to market-driven cuisine, Joe's has consistently pushed out high-quality New American fare, as well as a slew of talented kitchen staff that went on to open many of their own projects.

Miller wrote a statement on Facebook discussing the closure, which is scheduled for February 14:

After 24 years, I have decided to close Joe's Restaurant. My restaurant. I have had a great run bringing Farmer's Market-driven fine-dining to Abbot Kinney. I have seen this community through many changes. I've had a wonderful experience pouring my heart and soul into my food, my service, and my standards. I'm grateful to have met so many people and have had the pleasure of employing so many fine chefs and service staff and have seen many of them off to open their own restaurants to great acclaim, but now it is time to move on.

While I am sad to close this chapter of my life, I am so much more grateful to have had the opportunity to share my heart and passion with such a wonderful community for the past 24 years. I hope that those of you who have frequented my restaurant over the years will find time before the 14th of February to come in for one more meal and to say good-bye. But most of all, I want to say, thank you

Anyone who wants to taste Joe's Restaurant for the last time will have a few more weeks to pay tribute. When Eater last reported on Joe's partnership with Beau Laughlin back in December 2014, it seemed like the writing was on the wall for a concept change. However, as of last October, Laughlin was out of the picture and Miller continued to run Joe's as is. There was no other reason given for the impending February closure except that Miller is "sad to close this chapter of my life."

Miller still owns the popular Bar Pintxo in Santa Monica.