Prospect Heights Family-Owned Restaurant Closes After 34 Years

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Longtime local favorite El Gran Castillo de Jagua has permanently closed its doors after more than three decades in the neighborhood, the restaurant announced this week.

The Dominican eatery — which stood on Flatbush Avenue for 34 years — closed its doors on Sunday after losing the lease to its location between Sterling and Park Place, according to a post on its Facebook page.

"We are sad to inform you that after thirty-four years, El Gran Castillo de Jagua will be closing its doors after losing our lease," owners wrote Tuesday. "We want to thank the community for all of their support throughout the decades and want to express our deepest gratitude to our loyal customers."

The news came as a shock to neighbors, many of whom said they've gone to Gran Castillo for decades.

"Moved away from Park Place and Vanderbilt 15 years ago and still miss your food," one commenter wrote. "Thanks for many delicious meals."

"Thank you for being such a great part of our community," added another, noting that Gran Castillo was their first meal when moving to Park Place in 1996.

The closure is not the first time El Gran Castillo's fate has come into question.

In 2013, with the addition of the Barclays Center driving a development boom, the restaurant was ousted from its original spot on the corner of Park Place after the building was bought, according to reports at the time. But owners were able to salvage the eatery by moving up the street.

This time, owners said they don't have immediate plans to find a new location.

"As of right now, we are not planning to reopen nearby but are extremely grateful for the success we had due to customers like you!" they told one customer.

El Gran Castillo didn't immediately respond to a request from Patch for more details about the closure.

It was unclear what landlords have planned for the 355 Flatbush Ave. storefront, which had no applications for renovations or demolition filed with the Department of Buildings as of Wednesday. City records also showed no evidence the building had changed hands recently.

"We are beyond grateful for your service and loyalty at our restaurant these past 3 decades," they wrote in another comment online. "It would not have been possible without all of you! Although we closed this past Sunday, the memories created here will live forever."