Maui Restaurants Closed in 2009

Last year was a tough one for the Maui economy – tourism is our bread and butter here, so the tightening of wallets all over the mainland was really hard on our restaurants, airlines, and hotels.

(As one hotelier said to me recently, “Thank God for Canadians!”)

In case you’re wondering which of your favorite Maui restaurants succumbed to economic pressures in 2009, here’s a partial list. (To get the rest, use the “Closed for Business” drop down list above).

• Morning Glories Organic Internet Cafe in Paia: closed summer of 2009
• Santa Fe Cantina: closed end of 2009
• Shangri-La by the Sea in Kihei: closed summer of 2009
• Roy’s Bar & Grill in Kihei closed in the summer of 2009 (we really miss it, but the Kahana location is still open)
• Tip-Ups Tavern & Grill in Kihei closed in the fall of 2009
• Rusty Harpoon in Ka’anapali closed in the fall of 2009
• Greek Bistro in Kihei closed in the fall of 2009
• Chez Paul in Olowalu closed in the summer of 2009 (we are very sad about this, as are many of our readers; and no, we don’t know why their website is still active – perhaps it’s nostalgia?)
• Ma’alaea Grill closed in the fall of 2009
• Los Pelones in Lahaina closed at the end of 2009
• Jacque’s Northshore Bistro in Paia closed at the end of 2009 (a true loss to the nightlife in Paia)
• Cafe Kapalua in Kapalua closed at the end of 2009 (we liked their coffeebar … too bad)

We reviewed several of these restaurants in Top Maui Restaurants 2010, which went to press before they closed. Bummer!

But there isn’t just bad news … 2009 also brought some fantastic new restaurants to Maui. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post for those…