Popular Downtown New London Restaurant To Close Permanently

NEW LONDON, CT — The owner of New London restaurant Hot Rod Cafe said it will close permanently.

Rod Cornish wrote in a Facebook post that the Bank Street establishment never really recovered following the pandemic.

He wrote that "after much thought" he decided to permanently close the downtown location.

"I want to take a moment to thank all the staff, customers, friends and everyone that made Hot Rods such a special place over the last 18 years," he said. "We had a great run and now it is time to move on to the next adventure.

"It is bitter sweet, but I know it is the right thing for me to do from a business perspective. Business has been rough since the pandemic…the business never recovered fully to be honest."

He added that other factors in closing down the restaurant included high property taxes, increasing food and operating expenses, high labor costs, and "crazy" electrical costs, saying he paid over $5,000 in August alone.

This occurred while revenues were still down around 36% from before the pandemic.

Cornish's post garnered 619 reactions. One user wrote: "Sorry to see it close but grateful for the chance to go there many times."

In early October, the restaurant was put up for sale, The Day reported. The 4,158-square-foot building was listed for $1.2 million.

The restaurant had been temporarily closed in recent months.

In the Facebook post, Cornish said he wasn't “leaving downtown altogether, just repurposing the Hot Rod’s building away from a restaurant.”

Hot Rod Cafe has won numerous awards for its Buffalo wings and has been featured on the Food Network.

"I am very proud of the fact that I kept many people working during and post pandemic, and never missed a payroll," Cornish wrote. "I love my team and our customers and I kept it going even after suffering significant losses, even paying holiday bonuses out of my pocket while waiting for the recovery that never came."

Cornish still runs Charlies Place at 26 W. Main St. in Niantic.

"Please be sure visit our other spot, Charlies Place Restaurant, 26 W Main St in Niantic for delicious food including many Hot Rod’s wing flavors!" a notice on Hot Rod Cafe's website reads.