Popular Brooklyn Spot Closes Its Doors Amid Rising Business Costs

BROOKLYN, NY — Cecily, the Brooklyn wine bar that earned praise for its extensive wine list and carefully crafted food pairings, announced it will be serving its final dinner next month, nearly two years after opening.

Known for its seasonal creative dishes and global wine selection, the restaurant — featured in the 2024 Michelin Guide — announced its upcoming closure earlier this week on Instagram.

"It’s been almost two years since we opened our doors to the public, and quite a few more than that since we started this journey to try to create a great neighborhood restaurant here in Greenpoint," the restaurant posted in the caption of its Instagram post. "There isn’t much more we could have asked for, so our sadness is tempered as we announce our closure."

According to the team behind the restaurant, Cecily will officially close on Nov. 17.

Until then, the restaurant will serve dinner Tuesday through Saturday, with snacks and drinks available on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Reservations are still open on OpenTable, and walk-ins are welcome. The kitchen will close each night at 9 p.m. to accommodate the limited staff.

"The story of this closure is, frankly, neither unique nor interesting. More engaging op-eds have already been written about this industry at the moment. Costs continue to rise across the board, the economy is tenuous and unforgiving," the post continued.

Cecily opened in December 2023 at 80 Franklin Street near Oak Street, bringing seasonal, creative cuisine rooted in Brooklyn to the neighborhood.

The team includes Kristin Ma, a former sommelier at Michelin-starred Estela; Tara Noble, who helped launch Prospect Heights wine bar LaLou; Zach Frieling, with experience at Rockefeller Center’s Jupiter and the Michelin-starred Four Horsemen; and James Salazar, who has worked at local favorites Diner and Marlow & Sons, as well as Manhattan hotspots Cafe Altro Paradiso and Estela.

Before their final night next month, the team plans to roll out special menus, host pop-up events with friends, and offer unique wines by the glass that haven’t been available before, so keep an eye on their Instagram for updates.

"There are unforgettable meals in your futures - if you can’t share them with us, please share them with loved ones and know the spirit of Cecily lives on in every glass you raise with joy," they added.