Since being named the best city for vegans in June 2025, Chicago has seen a wave of vegan restaurant closures. The closures are attributed to a variety of factors, including rising costs for ingredients, rent, and labor, as well as changing consumer behavior and increased competition from fast-food chains and grocery stores. While the closures are a blow to the once-thriving vegan dining scene in Chicago, there is still hope for the future of vegan restaurants in the city.

Despite the challenges faced by vegan restaurants in Chicago, there is optimism that businesses will adapt and become more resilient. The closure of Bloom Plant Based Kitchen, for example, is not seen as an end but as an evolution towards something new that will carry forward the spirit and community of the restaurant. With around 30 fully vegan restaurants still operating in the city, there is hope that the landscape of vegan dining in Chicago is evolving rather than disappearing, and that restaurants that offer something unique will continue to thrive.