Millie's Kitchen Closes After 46 Years

LAFAYETTE, CA — A beloved Lafayette institution is gone.

Millie’s Kitchen, a 46-year-old restaurant that served as a gathering spot for generations of Lafayette residents, closed down this week, the East Bay Times reports.

Owner Eva Clement taped a note on the door of the restaurant that read: “To our valued Millie’s family: With great sadness, Millie’s has decided to retire. We have appreciated all of your patronage, friendship and loyalty over the years.” The note was signed by several staff members.

However, the note told customers to stay tuned for an announcement in January about new ownership.

Millie’s Kitchen, marked by its iconic street sign on Oak Hill Road, was founded in 1975 by its namesake, Millie Harris, according to a Lamorinda Weekly obituary. Current owner Eva Clement worked at the restaurant for 14 years, and then bought the restaurant from Harris in 1989 when she retired. Harris died in 2017.

For years, the restaurant was a popular community hang-out spot, hosting school teams, police officers, and families, and many of the staff and customers were on a first-name basis.