Old-School Vegan Restaurant Proper Eats to Shutter in St. Johns

Proper Eats has been serving organic vegan plates since 2005 at 8638 N Lombard Ave., but the restaurant will close its door on April 29, the O reports. Owner James Hayes announced the shutter on Facebook today, April 11, and he described the closure as “ninety-percent certain at this point.” But he also wrote that another vegan restaurant would be taking the place of Proper Eats, writing, “They will be keeping the delicious vegan vibes flowing through this space! Please continue to support them as you have us.”

It’s a safe bet that you have until April 29 to get inside for a final tofu scramble with avocado, a tempeh reuben for lunch, or Shepherd's pie for dinner. Proper Eats’ hours are Sunday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The adjoining grocery is also closing, and it’s in the process of selling off all of its inventory.

Hayes’s complete farewell reads:

Oh boy. Hello everyone! This is very difficult to put out there, but since it appears over ninety-percent certain at this point, I must inform the community that I care about so much and who I know cares about Proper Eats. Alas, it is with a very heavy heart that I announce the closure of Proper Eats at the end of April. I know this is a shock to many and I am still grappling with it, but after 12 years in business, it is time for my family and I to move on to new adventures. It has been beyond amazing to have this business. This community feels like family and has treated myself and Proper Eats as such. This decision was, and will most likely be, one of the hardest ones I've made. It has been such a pleasure and honor to meet so many of you and to have had the opportunity to serve up my brand of “proper food.” With that said, all is not lost! Although the market is disappearing, we are transferring the space into the very capable and talented hands of another vegan restaurant. They will be keeping the delicious vegan vibes flowing through this space! Please continue to support them as you have us. Additionally, please come support us these last few weeks. We have a lot of grocery inventory to sell and we will continue serving our whole menu until the last week of April. That's only 2 weeks though... so hurry in! Not sure yet when last service will be, but a parred down menu will most likely surface by Thursday, April 27, and we will try to stay open with some offerings until Saturday, April 29.

• Proper Eats [Official Site]
• North Portland's pioneering vegan restaurant Proper Eats is closing at end of April [Oregonian]