NYC’s Beloved Restaurant Candle Is Closing. Its Chef Says He Made a Big Mistake.

After initially opening the new Candle Cafe location in hopes of building on the brand's legacy in New York, chef Jorge Pineda announced that the restaurant would be closing in August due to mounting debt and a challenging economic climate. He revealed that rising costs of operating a restaurant, competition from other vegan options in the city, and a lack of support from the vegan community all contributed to the closure. Pineda also acknowledged that trying to keep the Candle name alive may have been a mistake, as diners had a strong connection to the original owners.

Despite the closure of Candle, Pineda expressed his dedication to the brand and its values of kindness, community, and healthy food. He emphasized his plans to create something new under a different name, potentially including cooking classes, private chef events, catering, or a smaller restaurant concept. Before Candle's final day of regular service on September 30, Pineda confirmed a special farewell dinner on September 19, offering a four-course prix fixe menu for guests to celebrate the restaurant's legacy.