Andrew Kirschner’s Santa Monica Yacht Club Closes Suddenly on the Westside

Eater has learned that Westside restaurant Santa Monica Yacht Club has officially closed. The two-year-old eatery was launched in 2015 by chef Andrew Kirschner, but quietly pegged last night as their final evening of dinner service.

Reached for comment, Kirschner passes along the following note:

“Being from Santa Monica, having the opportunity to open not just one, but two restaurants was awesome. But this city is notoriously tough. With everything going on in the industry, and the nature of the industry itself, I’ve decided to focus solely on Tar & Roses and to close SMYC. I’ve got a lot going on these days to keep me busy outside of the restaurants, and it’s time to reprioritize. It was a great run, and I’m happy to still be serving folks at Tar & Roses.”

Staff is reportedly being notified now, and guests with upcoming reservations are being accommodated at Tar & Roses instead.

The shutter of SMYC shows, despite its overall gains, just how volatile the Los Angeles restaurant market continues to be. Add in high rents in visible areas like Santa Monica, plus the usual staffing and sourcing issues that come with any restaurant, and it’s a recipe for a tough market, though many places — including Tar & Roses nearby, and Michael’s further on — continue to thrive.

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