Sonoma County-based Amy’s Kitchen has closed its Amy’s Drive Thru location at San Francisco International Airport, the last of its restaurants.
Airport public information officer Doug Yakel said in a statement that Amy’s Drive Thru in Terminal 1 closed March 25.
Amy’s Kitchen is best known for its vegetarian frozen foods. Paul Schiefer, Amy’s president, said in a statement to the media, “After careful consideration, we’ve made the decision to close this location … and concentrate on the areas of our business where we can have the greatest long-term impact. We’re grateful to the airport community, our dedicated team members, and the many guests who made Amy’s part of their journey over the years.”
CRISTA JEREMIASON / The Press Democrat
Amy’s Drive Thru in Rohnert Park, Saturday, June 20, 2015. (CRISTA JEREMIASON / The Press Democrat)
The news comes following the announcement in January that Amy’s would close its Rohnert Park drive-thru restaurant March 8.
In its announcement, Amy’s said it manufactures and sells more than 260 products in retail outlets in the U.S. and abroad. It said the decision to close all its restaurants will not impact operations at its corporate headquarters at 109 Kentucky St. in Petaluma.
Amy’s Kitchen was founded in 1987 by Rachel and Andy Berliner. Known for offering fully vegetarian menus, its restaurants served veggie burgers, pizza, “chik’n” tenders and milkshakes.
The company laid off 300 workers in 2022 when it closed its San Jose factory, and more than 300 additional employees were laid off across two facilities in Santa Rosa two years later.
An October 2024 article by North Bay Business Journal reported the privately held company was listed by business analytics firm Dun and Bradstreet as having an annual revenue of $466.41 million.
San Francisco-founded restaurant chain The Melt will open in the Amy’s location at SFO over the summer, according to Yakel.
The Melt was founded in 2011 and operates multiple locations around the Bay Area. It is known for its grilled cheese and crispy chicken sandwiches, mac and cheese, salads and milkshakes. The SFO outlet will be its 20th restaurant in 15 years.
Ralph Bower, CEO of The Melt, said in a statement, “SFO gives us the chance to share that with people who haven’t found us yet, including travelers from across the country and around the world experiencing The Melt for the first time. There’s something fitting about introducing the brand to a global audience from the city where it all started.”
Terminal 1 at the airport has in recent years gained a variety of new restaurant locations, such as Equator Coffees, Napa Farms Market, Bun Mee and Perry’s. Amy’s Drive Thru had been open there since 2019.