Riverside’s Phood on Main has closed

As announced earlier this year, Riverside’s Phood on Main served its final meals last month.

Owners Marla Cohen and Lyn Cloninger’s side business with a PG-13 name has taken off, and the duo has shut down the restaurant to focus on manufacturing and distributing their line of spices, which we’ll just call SSS for short.

Phood on Main, 3737 Main St., Suite 100, had been in downtown Riverside for seven years.

Click here for a farewell message, as posted on Facebook.

Sun setting on Sugarbird Desserts

If you have had the chance to sample any of Sugarbird Desserts’ delicious baked goods, you know what a loss this is: Owner Heather Paul is shutting down the bakery.

She’s doing so to spend more time with her family.

While we will miss Sugarbird’s delicious treats, we applaud her choice.

“Amazing baker” is a great title to have. “Amazing mom” is an even better one.

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Heading to LA/Ontario International Airport? You really ought to pack a lunch

Oh, remember back in February, when the Applebee’s in Terminal 2 at LA/Ontario International Airport shut down, “temporarily”?

Well, things haven’t gotten any better.

In fact, they’re worse.

Now, the T.G.I. Friday’s in Terminal 4 is no more.

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Aloha, Kealoha’s…hello, Cruiser’s American Grill

Cruisers ChinoKealoha’s Taste of the Islands, which was resurrected in the old Honolulu Harry’s spot in Chino less than two years ago, has sailed off into the Hawaiian sunset.

In its place is Cruiser’s American Grill, featuring burgers, sandwiches, salads and other mainland specialties.

Cruiser’s is celebrating its grand opening today (November 22) through Sunday (November 24). Click the photo above to see some of the grand opening specials.

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A few recent restaurant changes noted

It’s been a short while since we’ve updated you all on recent restaurant changes.

Here’s a few that readers have tipped us on and a couple we’ve discovered just driving around the Inland Empire.

Head over the jump to get started.

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Downtown Upland loses two eateries

In case you missed it, downtown Upland has lost one restaurant, is losing another, but is gaining a third.

Already closed is Aria Restaurant and Lounge, which was owned by the same folks who own Antonino’s Italian Restaurant, Haandi Indian Cuisine, Sixty 6 Sports Bar and Lounge and the Magic Lamp Inn in Rancho Cucamonga.

Facebook fan Diana reports that Charlie’s Red, White and Blue American Deli and Bar is moving into the space at 296 N. Second Ave.

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Another wave of restaurant closures hits

In a sign that the economy still has some recovery to do, we’ve spotted four local restaurants that have closed in recent weeks.

Chino’s La Crêperie Café, an offshoot of the original in Long Beach’s Belmont Shores, has closed. The location, a former Black Angus, might’ve been just too large for La Crêperie. The original is a much more intimate location. Also, the owners have switched the small chain’s downtown Long Beach location from crepes to Mediterranean and dubbed it La Shish.

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fresh & easy sold; about 50 stores will close

The deed is done.

fresh & easy has been sold.

And in the end, it wasn’t the expected buyers, the German company Aldi Nord, which owns Trader Joe’s.

Instead, it was the former owners of Food 4 Less and Ralphs — the Los Angeles-based Yucaipa Companies — who purchased the chain from Tesco.

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Suite 106 Cupcakery is on the move

On Monday, the owners of Suite 106 Cupcakery announced that they had closed their storefront in Victoria Gardens’ Rancho Victoria Food Hall.

It’s not for lack of sales.

In fact, Suite 106 is very busy this month, with gigs at the L.A. County Fair and other catering events lined up.

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Carlo’s Italian Bakery Pizza closes its doors

Carlo’s Italian Bakery Pizza may have closed its Montclair restaurant, but the business lives on.

A brief post on the business’ Facebook page from last Thursday explains that the restaurant is closed, but they will continue with catering and brewery events, including an event tomorrow (September 5) at Dale Bros. Brewery.

Not to infer any connection between the two events, but our very own Elaine “Lunch with ‘Lainey” Lehman wrote a favorable review of Carlo’s just a few weeks ago.

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