Following the closure of the local chain’s third location in Brandon earlier this year, the same unfortunate fate is in store for Ybor City and Dunedin’s Vegan Delis as well.
The owners of both locations took to social media last week to announce the eventual closure of both plant-based eateries. Its Ybor City deli, at 1903 N 19th St., will close at the end of this month. It’s unclear when the flagship Dunedin location will actually close, as its owners state that it will “stay open for as long as possible.”
Online ordering for both locations will stay up and running for the time being, where folks can order loaded sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, salads and house-made seitan by the half-pound.
According to recent Facebook posts, there are a culmination of reasons behind the impending closure of Ybor City’s Vegan Deli, including “the economy, supply chain shortages, changes in city parking laws that no longer allow our customers to park for free behind our deli, and staffing issues.”
Jamey Harper and EJ Easterbrook own all of the Vegan Deli locations (alongside a group of investors), and told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that its other locations in Orlando and Sarasota have closed as well. When Ybor City’s deli closes at the end of October, its original storefront in Dunedin will be their very last location open.
“Our goal was to make affordable vegan food available in areas where it was lacking and maybe change a few minds about vegan food along the way, ” a recent post from Facebook says . “We feel we have been able to do this on some small level and don’t regret the effort.”
The social media post goes on to explain that both its Dunedin and Ybor City locations are up for sale, as any interested buyers should email [email protected]
Throughout 2021, the locally-owned chain rapidly expanded on both sides of the bridge, and opened its fourth location in Ybor City in April of last year. A fifth Tampa Bay location was slated to open in Pinellas Park in fall 2022 , but Harper states that it’s no longer in the works.
Despite Brandon’s Vegan Deli closing earlier this year due to staffing issues, Harper tells CL that “there’s a very slim chance” that a new location may open in Wesley Chapel eventually.
Tampa Bay’s plant-based folks can still get their comfort food fixes at either location of Black Radish Grocer, Golden Dinosaurs, Vegan International Co., WeVegan Cafe or the newly-opened sit-down restaurant Good Intentions.
For more information on the last few weeks of Ybor City’s Vegan Deli and the fate of its sibling in Dunedin, head their corresponding Facebook pages.