Emeryvilles Baby Cafe and Walnut Creeks SanDai shutter in June

Baby Cafe, a Hong Kong-style cafe, and Rotten City Pizza, a New York-style pizzeria, have closed their doors in Emeryville as reported by the E’Ville Eye. Baby Cafe was known for its milk teas and lunch dishes but vacated the Emeryville Public Market. Rotten City Pizza, which operated for 17 years, may explore an employee ownership model for future survival but has currently ceased operations. In Oakland, The Rendez Vous, a French bistro recognized for its beautiful interior, has also closed after three years of service. Meanwhile, SanDai in Walnut Creek, which offered a range of Malay dishes, shut down due to dwindling customer traffic and a high monthly rent of $28,500.

Despite the closure, SanDai's coffee and pastry shop, Kopi Bar, will continue operating and is planning to move to a higher-traffic location. These closures underscore the challenges the East Bay restaurant scene faces amid changing consumer habits. Local businesses are increasingly vulnerable to economic pressures, prompting shifts in the dining landscape.