Broad Street Eatery Closes Its Doors After 11 Years

RED BANK, NJ - Owners of downtown Red Bank favorite Via 45 announced the establishment’s closure on Sunday, sparking a bittersweet response from customers online.

“When one door closes another opens … thank you for 11 beautiful years together,” owners Claudette Herring and Lauren Phillips wrote in a Sept. 27 Facebook post. “Via45 will continue its journey … stay tuned”.

"You created so much love and fed it to so many people," wrote one user.

"Thank you for the many, many, delicious meals and priceless memories created in your restaurant," wrote another.

Even Sen. Declan O'Scanlon took to social media to bid the eatery goodbye:

Heartbreaking. Via45 was a great restaurant run by fantastic, enthusiastic people. I’ll bet at least 70% of the restaurants closing over the last month could have been saved had the Governor not senselessly dragged out our indoor dining reopening. Every other state did it better. https://t.co/soU47oJtED
— Declan O'Scanlon (@declanoscanlon) September 30, 2020

Herring and Phillips opened the “rustic Italian” spot in May 2009 at the intersection of White and Broad Streets. The establishment quickly gained a reputation for its unique takes on vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free food items, as well as its whimsical décor.

According to the restaurant’s website, the owners estimate that 30 percent of their customer base has a food allergy. Most of their menu also offers a gluten-free alternative.

“It was about creating a place where you belonged and could be who you are,” Herring said of the restaurant, according to Via 45’s About page. “It’s about the pure enjoyment of food and being together.”

A voice message from the restaurant confirmed the closing on Monday: “It’s been our pleasure. We are closed. We will no longer be at 45 Broad Street.”

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