Where did all the vegan restaurants go?
My favorite restaurant, here in Madison, Wisconsin, closed this week. It was not my favorite because it had the greatest food I’d ever had, nor the most memorable ambiance. But I loved the Mad Rabbit Cafe because it had become my anchor in the neighborhood — it felt like home to me and a core […]
Mad Rabbit Cafe, Madison's beloved vegan restaurant, closed, emphasizing the decline of vegan dining spots across the US. Data from HappyCow, a platform for vegan and vegetarian restaurants, reveals a 21-25% drop in vegan establishments in major cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and Portland since 2022. Notable closures include Modern Love and Candle in NYC, the Vegan Joint in LA, and Millennium in Oakland, an institution that later reopened with a leaner operation.
In Madison, only one or two fully vegan restaurants remain, down from four just three years ago. Owner Nate Anger of Mad Rabbit Cafe expressed the restaurant's profitability but lack of sufficient profit to justify the demanding lifestyle. The vegan restaurant movement, though small, has historically played a crucial role in advocating for plant-based options, providing a sanctuary for those committed to cruelty-free eating.
Despite the challenges, many proprietors remain dedicated to the cause, believing that their establishments can contribute to the growth of the vegan movement.
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