Napa Japanese Eatery Shuts Down A 1st Street Restaurant: Report

NAPA VALLEY, CA — After more than a decade at the Oxbow Public Market, Eiko’s Restaurant will close its location at 610 First St., the Napa Valley Register reported.

The closing comes after several years of declining foot traffic at the market and a shift away from its artisanal focus, according to a statement from owners Rick Zaslove and Allison Hallum reported by The Napa Valley Register. Those changes, they said according to the Register, led the business to consolidate operations at 11 years at the Oxbow.

The final day of service at the Oxbow location is Sunday.

Eiko’s downtown location at 1300 First St., Suite 385, will remain open.

In their statement reported by The Napa Valley Register the owners expressed their appreciation for the community’s support: “Eiko’s has been honored to be part of the Oxbow Public Market for more than a decade. We are deeply grateful to our loyal guests, our dedicated team members, and the community that supported us over the years at this location.”

The head chef from Eiko’s Oxbow location will transition to the Eiko’s restaurant inside the Shops at First Street. Two employees from the Oxbow location will be laid off and will receive severance pay, according to Hallum, The Napa Valley Register reported.

Although the Oxbow Eiko’s is closing, the downtown restaurant is opening a fresh seafood market that will sell items by the pound, Hallum said, according to The Napa Valley Register. In a statement reported by The Napa Valley Register, Eiko’s said it “remains committed to exceptional quality and responsible sourcing as the brand focuses on strengthening and consolidating its core operations.”

Zaslove and Hallum have also made recent changes to their other Napa restaurant venture, according to The Napa Valley Register. Napa Noodles closed in June to accommodate the redevelopment of Parkway Plaza into a hotel and residential complex and items from the Napa Noodles menu were added to the downtown Eiko’s menu.