Melt Bar and Grilled, a regional restaurant chain founded by Matt Fish in 2006, has announced its permanent closure after 18 years in operation. The decision was made public on January 1, 2025, in a Facebook post by Fish.
The company had been struggling financially since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, despite efforts to save it. In 2020, Fish started the process of trying to revive the business, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the challenges faced by the restaurant industry during the pandemic. The company filed for bankruptcy in June 2024 and closed 12 locations across 2023 and 2024.
Fish had initially focused on his flagship location in Lakewood, which he renovated and relaunched in September 2024. However, despite this effort, the business wasn’t generating enough revenue to sustain itself.
The closure is a significant loss for Fish, who had built Melt Bar and Grilled from scratch and expanded it to 13 locations. He expressed his gratitude to customers and employees who supported the business over the years, but also defended himself against criticism from “haters” who had questioned his decisions.
Fish plans to take time off, tie up loose ends with the business, and spend time with his family after the closure. The exact date of the final closure is not specified, but customers have been warned that the Lakewood location will be closed from December 30 to January 5 for a “staff vacation.”
Source: https://fox8.com/news/melt-bar-and-grilled-to-close-for-good