Diners across Syracuse and Buffalo are mourning the impending closure of the beloved vegan restaurant Strong Hearts.
The restaurant, which opened in Syracuse in 2008 before expanding to a second location in Buffalo in 2022, has long been a favorite with New Yorkers, loved for its plant-based twists on everything from loaded fries to Reuben sandwiches to chicken salads, burgers, and, of course, buffalo wings.
But at the beginning of July, Strong Hearts revealed that after years of financial struggles, it was saying goodbye to both of its locations. “This decision did not come suddenly, and it was not made lightly,” a statement from co-owners Joel Capolongo and Nick Ryan, posted to social media, reads. “Over the past several years, the financial realities of operating independent restaurants have become incredibly difficult.”…