Some were old favorites. Some we never tried. Here’s a look back at the more than 20 restaurants and eateries in Berks County that closed in 2022.

Noom Nums Caribbean Kitchen

Shillington Farmers Market

With Saturday, December 31 as their last day, Noom Nums Caribbean Kitchen has closed at the Shillington Farmers Market. Noom Nums was sharing a stand with Southern Side Kitchen, which is continuing at the location. In a Facebook message, it was announced that Noom Nums was hiring as the business is restructuring. No additional details are available.


exterior of Chef Alan's in West Reading

Chef Alan’s American Bistro

West Reading

After 35 years in business, Chef Alan’s American Bistro in West Reading closed its doors for the final time on December 17. The namesake owner Chef Alan Rutter decided to close the restaurant as he retires from his role as chef. A cigar lounge is slated to open in the location early in the new year.


The Angry Anvil

The Angry Anvil

Birdsboro

After four years serving Birdsboro and Berks County, the Angry Anvil closed its doors in early November when their lease expired. The owners are continuing to operate the Oakbrook Brewing Company in Reading.


The exterior of Canal Street Pub features a large sign with their logo: a bridge over the Schuylkill River

Canal Street Restaurant & Pub

Reading

A popular spot in the City of Reading since it opened in 1995, the Canal Street Pub is now closed. The owners announced in a Facebook post that the space has been sold and that Friday, November 4 was the last night in business for the restaurant. There is no word on who purchased the space or what they intend to do with it. The Pub owners said they will continue hosting already booked private events.


The Off Post Pub

Bechtelsville

After a short six-month run, the Off Post Pub in Bechtelsville has closed. The business shut its doors on October 31. The Off Post Pub occupied a historic inn at 2116 Old Route 100 since May 24. The building has housed a number of short-lived businesses in recent years incuding Cheers Tavern, Bandit’s Public House and 2116 Taproom.


Shillington Farmers Market Cafe

The Market Cafe at Shillington Farmers Market

Shillington

After five years, the Market Cafe at Shillington Farmers Market is now closed. The announcement came via a Facebook post dated September 24 with that being the business’ last day in operation. A new stand – The Shillington Market Breakfast & Brunch – opened in its place.


SusieQ’s Breakfast and Lunch Cafe

Birdsboro

After three years in business, SusieQ’s in Birdsboro closed its doors for the final time on August 28. In a Facebook post to customers, the owners cited the “current economic state” as the reason for the closure. The location has gone through several restaurants over the years including The Cafe at Maple Springs and a second location for Dino’s Wings & Things.


Oley Turnpike Dairy

Oley

After more than five decades, the Oley Turnpike Dairy closed on August 20 with the owners announcing their retirement on social media. The closure includes the diner, ice cream bar and petting zoo.


The Tavern on Penn

West Lawn

After a 10-year run, the Tavern on Penn in West Lawn closed its doors on July 16. The restaurant’s owners put a heartfelt message on Facebook announcing the closing, saying “Owning and operating the TOP has been one of the greatest joys of our lives and made this decision all the more difficult to make. We feel this is the right time to walk away. Time with our family, children, and grandchildren has flown by before our eyes. It’s time to focus on those relationships and make them a priority. Out of the many trials the pandemic presented, there was one positive we found. The appreciation of time and the limited amount we have together.”


8899 Chinese Restaurant

Muhlenberg Township

8899 Restaurant, formerly located along Kutztown Road in Muhlenberg, closed in 2022 with little to no warning. The restaurant had aced its December health inspection (no violations), then closed in early summer.


Exterior of a restaurant with no signage and a vague look of a Mexican villa.

Bad Biscuit Co.

Reading

After 15 months in business, Bad Biscuit Co. closed its doors on July 1. The restaurant opened in the former Fiesta Mexicana along Columbia Avenue in early 2021, focusing on breakfast and lunch, especially the scratch-made biscuits.


10 & 23 Tacos

Morgantown

10 & 23 Tacos, the small taco truck at the corner of the namesake routes in Morgantown, closed in June. The business opened in March 2021 and focused on quick service tacos and Mexican food.


Aunt Patti’s Tack Shack

Reading

Aunt Patti’s Tack Shack, inside the CITGO Gas Station on Lancaster Avenue, closed its doors in early June. According to a Facebook posting at the time, the closing stemmed from a falling out with the landlord. The Tack Shack was the reincarnation of Tack’s Sandwich Shop, which operated at the corner of 16th and Cottonwood in Reading for decades before closing in 2020. The owners say they are seeking a new location. In the meantime, pre-made subs, mac salads and more are available at select gas stations in Berks, Lancaster and Montgomery Counties.


Kelsey O’Shays Pub & Grille

Douglassville

Kelsey O’Shays, the Irish Pub along Route 724 in Douglassville, is listed as permanently closed on Google, Facebook and Yelp. The last update on the restaurant’s Facebook page came in April so the closure happened sometime in spring or early summer. There has been no word on any new business for the location.


Stonersville Hotel

Douglassville

After reopening under new ownership in 2021, the Stonersville Hotel closed its doors once again in May, at least for the forseeable future. The announcement came via Facebook that it is a “temporary closure” and that the woners “hope that this closure will not be permanent.” No other details were provided.


Mad Dogs Kutztown

Kutztown

Mad Dogs, the hot dog shop along Constitution Blvd in Kutztown, is now closed. The restaurant shut its doors on May 3. The business had been for sale since last year, but without any buyers, the owners have shut it down to focus on Mad Dogs’ Macungie location. The building has served as a restaurant for many years, formerly housing Potts U and before that CC’s Wood-Fired Girll.


Sazon Caribbean Restaurant

Blandon

After just two months in business, Sazon Caribbean Restaurant in Blandon is closed. The announcement was made on the restaurant’s social media on May 4. In the post, it was alleged that two business partners left without warning, and there was no choice but to close. The restaurant was located in the former Main Street Pizza.


Circle S Ranch House

West Lawn

One of Berks County’s longest-running restaurants is now just a memory with the closing of Circle S Ranch House on April 8. The restaurant had been in business for 49 years. The owners cited a desire to spend more time with their families as the reason for the closing. The family continues to operate Schell’s and the Dairy Swirl in Temple. A new ownership group has reopened the space as Lilli’s Ranch House.


Sweet Street Baked

Muhlenberg

Sweet Street Baked, the Fairgrounds Farmers Market outpost of Cafe Sweet Street, closed its doors on January 11 after less than a year in business. The stand served a limited menu that failed to take off the same as the cafe.


Wild Sage Coffee & Kitchen

Reading & Muhlenberg

The first restaurant to close in 2022, Wild Sage Coffee & Kitchen announced the closure of both locations on January 9. Wild Sage ran a downtown Reading cafe and a second location at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market in Muhlenberg Township. The market location is now home to Oola Bowls while the Washington Street Cafe became home to Sweets Cafe & Juice Bar.

Leave a Reply