Critically Acclaimed East Bay Vegan Restaurant Closing After 31 Years

OAKLAND, CA — A longtime vegan restaurant known as a pioneer in the industry is closing after three decades, according to an announcement by its co-owner.

Millennium in Oakland will serve its last meal on Saturday, May 16, co-owner Alison Bagby said in a video posted on social media over the weekend.

"It's clear to us right now that this isn't financially sustainable for us anymore," Bagby said, adding that it was a tough video to make. "We just aren't busy enough to keep operating this way."

Millennium at 5912 College Ave. first opened in 1994, inside San Francisco's Hotel California, under the ownership of Larry and Ann Wheat. At the time, it was one of the Bay Area's pioneering vegan restaurants.

When the Wheats retired in 2015, Tucker and Bagby took over and relocated to its current location in Oakland's Rockridge neighborhood.

Millennium is critically acclaimed and known for its innovative vegan cuisine. The menu, curated by co-owner and chef Eric Tucker, changes regularly but has featured items such as coriander and arborio crusted oyster mushrooms and sweet potato-masa dumplings.

While it appears this is Millennium's last ride, Bagby said they are determined to find a way to continue. It's unclear what that could look like.

"We have done our very best to stay true to what we believe in—supporting our local community, humans and animals —and we will continue to do that however we can," according to a statement from Millennium. "Thank you for being part of nearly 32 years of Millennium. What an exceptional community this has been."