After 15 Years, A Longtime Brooklyn Restaurant Is Closing

BROOKLYN, NY — After nearly 16 years serving seasonal New American small plates built on local ingredients, Colonie will shutter its Brooklyn Heights restaurant at the end of the month, the owner announced this week.

"We are so sad to leave after such an epic run, but our hearts are full of gratitude as we reflect on this incredible journey," the team behind Colonie—owners Emelie Kihlström, Elise Rosenberg and Tamer Hamawi—wrote in an Instagram post.

The team wrote that the past 15 years had been “amazing,” thanking their patrons for their support throughout the restaurant’s long run.

Colonie opened in 2011 at 127 Atlantic Avenue, just two blocks from the East River on the edge of Brooklyn Heights. Drawing inspiration from the history and character of the surrounding neighborhoods, the restaurant committed to supporting the New York food community by sourcing from as many local farms as possible.

Over the years, Colonie earned numerous accolades, including topping New York Magazine’s “Best Brooklyn Heights” list.

Colonie’s owners also ran Pips—the natural-wine bar and Italian-leaning spot next door—and Hildur, their Scandinavian greenmarket restaurant in DUMBO. Pips closed several weeks ago, and Hildur, located at 5 Front Street at Old Fulton Street, closed this past weekend.

While the team did not share details about the closures on social media, they told Andrea Strong’s Strong Buzz newsletter that rising business costs and changing dining habits in the post-pandemic landscape played a major role.

The Colonie closure is the latest in a string of Brooklyn spots shutting down. Recently, the cocktail bar Dirty Precious closed its doors after nearly a decade on Third Avenue, while Our Wicked Lady, the beloved East Williamsburg venue, shuttered in July after almost 10 years. Earlier this summer, the iconic Bari Pork Store in Bensonhurst closed after more than 50 years in business.

The wave of closures reflects a broader trend of longtime neighborhood institutions disappearing.

A recent Brooklyn Commercial District Needs Assessment noted that local businesses continue to struggle with reduced foot traffic stemming from COVID-19, which has hurt shopping activity and changed the habits of both merchants and residents.

Colonie will officially close its doors on Nov. 30.

“Special thanks to our amazing team for making this space so special and to our community who have shown up year after year," the post continued. “We hope you can visit us for a few last hurrags as we close this chapter…. Love, The Colonie Team.”