Well-known downtown Seattle restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory, is closing out after 23 years with its iconic cheesecakes and a huge menu of dishes. The establishment closes for good on May 4, 2025, at 700 Pike Street. It is the end of an era for Seattle locals and tourists who came to the restaurant tired and hungry over the years.
The Cheesecake Factory confirmed the closure to Bloomberg Media in a statement from Alethea Rowe, Senior Director of Public Relations and Global Branding for The Cheesecake Factory, saying that the closure came after an analysis and review that took place. The company did not specify the reasons for the shutdown but stated that they are going to offer the employees transition assistance and possible transfers to other locations.
Impact on Downtown Seattle
It is another major business departing from the urban core of downtown Seattle Cheesecake Factory: the closure comes as the COVID-19 pandemic causes businesses to close all over the world. In the area, foot traffic patterns have changed, and rising operational costs are challenging many of the businesses.
These challenges don’t dissuade the Cheesecake Factory from continuing to deliver service to its Seattle area customers at locations near them at Bellevue, Tacoma, Tukwila, and Lynnwood. For the many who have long enjoyed its proximity to downtown, especially those who come to the Washington State Convention Center events, this closure is a big loss.
Why Is the Cheesecake Factory Closing?
The Seattle location, which has not been explicitly stated as to why it closed, was also one of Ballard’s four stores. But businesses in the area have complained of such things as:…