STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Restaurant and food business closures do not happen in a vacuum. When a dining room goes dark, it means lost jobs, fewer customers for neighboring businesses and less foot traffic for nearby stores. For restaurant owners, employees and loyal patrons, closures carry an emotional toll as well.

But time moves forward, and Staten Island’s dining landscape continues to shift. Since Jan. 1, a mix of longtime neighborhood favorites, independent eateries and national chains have shuttered across the borough, making way for fresh ideas.

Here’s a look at the restaurants that have closed since Jan. 1 and what’s coming next at many of those addresses.

A&S Caterers at 3137 Victory Blvd., Bulls Head — The longtime catering hall remains closed following the Feb. 11 death of co-owner Christopher T. Hewitt, 50. A well-known figure in Staten Island’s hospitality industry, Hewitt also operated The Misty Lounge and previously worked at Delfini’s. The future of the Victory Boulevard business has not been announced.

Applebee’s at 2720 Veterans Rd. West, Charleston — Closed in April after more than two decades near the Outerbridge Crossing. The property is being redeveloped into a BJ’s Wholesale Club gas station, serving the BJ’s Wholesale Club at 85 Bricktown Way, which opened without a gas station.

Ayat at 2018 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills — The Michelin Guide-recognized Palestinian restaurant closed its Staten Island location this year. Known for shawarma, kebabs, falafel and wood-fired pizzas, the eatery developed a loyal following on the East Shore. It remains open in other boroughs and no other eatery has taken its Hylan storefront.

Bai Wei at 1724 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills — The former Chinese restaurant space has since been taken over by Little Kitchen, a Shanghainese restaurant that opened June 23, 2026, serving homestyle Chinese dishes, dim sum and other traditional specialties. It was a quick turnaround for the spot where Bai Wei closed on May 14, 2026.

Crumbl Cookies at South Shore Commons, Charleston — The cookie chain closed its South Shore Commons location this year after nearly three years in business. The bakery, which opened in 2023, reopened in 2026 following months of flood-related repairs but later closed permanently. While the Charleston store has closed, Crumbl’s Forest Avenue location continues in popularity. The closure comes as the fast-growing brand has shuttered some locations nationally while continuing to expand in other markets.

Dedem Mediterranean at 1755 Richmond Rd., Dongan Hills — The Turkish-Mediterranean restaurant quietly exited the market in April after a two-year run.

DOUGH at 3831 Richmond Ave., Eltingville — The four-year-old pizzeria closed in May and is now home to Pizza Mia, unrelated to the former tenant. DOUGH’s other location remains open at 977 Victory Blvd.

East Pacific at 2655 Richmond Ave., New Springville — The Staten Island Mall mainstay served its final dim sum in July. An Asian buffet is anticipated in the spot.

Food Dynasty at 1039 Castleton Ave., West Brighton — The midsize market opened in March 2026 in the former Shop Smart Supermarket and Compare Foods space as a 5,000-square-foot, full-service market, according to MarketReportBlog.com. It closed five months later in August.

Ho’Brah at 4895 Arthur Kill Rd., Charleston — The South Shore outpost permanently closed Jan. 31 after a five-year run. Known for its beach-inspired atmosphere and Tex-Mex fare, the restaurant had operated in Bridgeview Plaza since 2021.

Il Sogno at 26 Jefferson Blvd., Annadale — After 15 years in Annadale, owner Pedro Canelo closed the Italian restaurant in June, saying his lease had expired and he was ready to enjoy retirement after a 45-year career in the restaurant industry.

Istanbul Bay at 500-502 Bay St., Stapleton — The Turkish-Mediterranean eatery closed this summer after a nearly two-year run on Bay Street. The business drew boroughwide attention during the 2025 mayoral campaign when then-candidate Zohran Mamdani visited. After it shuttered, the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene told the Advance/SILive.com that Istanbul Bay had never been issued a food service establishment permit. No successor tenant has been announced.

J’s on the Bay at 1189 Bay St., Rosebank — Chef-owner Joe Salimeni brought the curtain down on the Rosebank restaurant after 12 years, saying he was ready to step away after building the business into a neighborhood dining destination.

Kuzina at 1458 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills — After 13 years in Dongan Hills, the Mitilineos family closed the Greek restaurant in January. Known for its homestyle cooking and strong relationships with neighborhood diners, Kuzina had been a fixture on the East Shore since 2013. The family has since shifted its focus to its restaurant at 895 Huguenot Ave.

La Bottiglia at 293 Port Richmond Ave., Port Richmond — Owner Nino Cusenza closed the Italian restaurant over the summer after a three-year run. Known for its steaks, chops, cocktails and upscale hospitality, La Bottiglia was among Staten Island’s earliest post-pandemic fine-dining openings. Cusenza thanked customers for their support, calling the experience “a very good adventure.” The restaurant is being transformed into Lola, a Spanish concept.

La Rosa Chicken Grill at 1172 Victory Blvd., Sunnyside — The rotisserie chicken restaurant suddenly closed after operating since 2018. The space is slated to become La Taqueria Co. Mexican Grill, a family-owned operation serving birria and other South of the Border mainstays.

Mike’s New Dakota Diner at 921 Richmond Ave., Graniteville — The longtime diner served its final meals in January after more than four decades at the landmark Richmond Avenue location. The restaurant traces its roots to The Dakota in the 1980s. Following several ownership changes, the Pefanis family revived it in 1987, and Mike Moudatsos and his family took over in 2019.

Miller’s Ale House at 2883 Richmond Ave., New Springville — The sports bar and restaurant closed Sept. 25 after a 12-year run. At its peak, the restaurant employed dozens of workers and drew sports fans from across the borough. No reason for the shutdown was announced.

Outback Steakhouse at the Staten Island Mall, New Springville — The Australian-themed steakhouse permanently closed Aug. 10 after a 20-year run at The Crossings. Opened alongside Carrabba’s Italian Grill in 2006, the restaurant was a longtime destination for family dinners, celebrations and casual dining. Employees were offered transfers to the chain’s Brooklyn location. The future of the Marsh Avenue site has not been announced.

Papa John’s at 2175 Hylan Blvd., Grant City — As part of a national trend, the pizzeria closed this spring. The space is now occupied by 8-Bit Bites. One Papa John’s remains on Staten Island in West Brighton.

Planet Wings at 474 Forest Ave., West Brighton, and 698 Arthur Kill Rd., Eltingville — The wing chain closed its final two Staten Island locations in May, ending a borough presence that spanned roughly a decade at each site. Both restaurants ceased operations without advance notice. By June, the Forest Avenue location had been replaced by Saucy Wingz.

Popeyes at 1351 Forest Ave., Port Richmond — The fast-food restaurant was ordered closed by the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in March following an inspection that cited multiple sanitary violations. The location has remained shuttered since the March 9 closure. The location is set to become a Tex’s Chicken & Burgers, the chain’s second Staten Island location.

Popeyes at 148 Page Ave., Richmond Valley — The restaurant closed less than two years after opening just before the new year. It is now Yo-Yo Chicken.

Qdoba Mexican Eats at 2795 Richmond Ave., New Springville; 2480 Hylan Blvd., New Dorp; 7001 Amboy Rd., Tottenville — Qdoba’s Staten Island history dates to about 2011, when the brand operated a food court outpost at the Staten Island Mall before expanding into strip mall locations across the borough. The fast-casual Mexican chain quietly closed the Tottenville location in early January. The space is now home to the recently opened Paris Baguette. The chain’s New Springville, New Dorp and Tottenville locations have closed, leaving Woodrow Road as Qdoba’s lone remaining restaurant on Staten Island.

Richmond Republic at 4459 Amboy Rd., Eltingville — The gastropub recently shared news of its shuttering after an eight-year run.

Sea Bar at 2636 Hylan Blvd., New Dorp — Known for Mediterranean specialties and an ambitious seafood menu, the two-year-old restaurant went dark in January. The space at The Boulevard shopping complex has not yet been occupied.

Sofia’s Guac Bar at 1210 Forest Ave., Westerleigh — The small storefront served as the second location of Sofia’s Guac Bar. It opened in June 2023 following a two-month renovation but has since closed. The space is now home to Favorite Son, a tiny, recently opened, sourdough-focused pizzeria that has quickly gained a following.

Sumac at 1198B Forest Ave., Westerleigh — The Middle Eastern restaurant closed after 10 years of serving the Westerleigh community on Forest Avenue. A new halal grill is planned for the space.

Supreme Burger at 646 Forest Ave., West Brighton — The smashburger spot closed after a two-year run on Forest Avenue. Known for fresh-made smashburgers and hand-cut fries, the restaurant developed a following among local burger fans before quietly exiting the market. It will be Gyro City.