Jessica Biel’s Au Fudge Restaurant in West Hollywood Has Closed

Au Fudge, the child-friendly restaurant in West Hollywood from Jessica Biel, Estee Stanley, and Greenleaf founder Jon Rollo, has closed as of last Sunday according to Wehoville. Biel posted the news publicly on her Instagram as well, thanking patrons for the support and saying the space would still be available for private events. According to US Weekly, in early 2017 Biel said on Jimmy Kimmel Live that the restaurant “wasn’t making any money.”

The restaurant had a bit of a rocky opening, with early reports saying that the place would have an exclusive, Soho House-like vibe for kids. But the actual eatery ended up being pretty straightforward, except for separate space for children to play. Reviews for the food were mixed, with an easygoing comfort food menu that appealed to a wide audience. Desserts were a standout part of the menu.

The front of the restaurant offered a marketplace selling retail items. In all, despite an ambitious place that was supposed to cater to West Hollywood locals, Au Fudge never garnered traction outside of families with children.

The restaurant also had some lawsuit issues, with former employees suing the restaurant for $400,000 for wage theft. In June, the group of nine plaintiffs that were suing Au Fudge dropped the case without explanation.

• All Au Fudge Coverage [ELA]