What happened to Blaze, Divine Swine? 5 restaurants that have closed in Stanislaus County
It was a nice weekend for a drive through Stanislaus County — though the reason for the one I took wasn’t as nice as the weather.
I went around to check on some of the businesses rumored to have closed, either quietly or with an announcement, and some that appear to have changed ownership.
Though the news that a business has closed isn’t nearly as exciting as hearing that one is opening, here are some of the places no longer in the region.
Curious about a business closure in Stanislaus County that is missing from this list? Email dwilliams@modbee.com.
What restaurants have closed their doors in Stanislaus County?
Blaze BBQ Mediterranean Fusion, 4925 Sisk Road, Suite J, quietly closed for undetermined reasons after around two years of business in Salida. The Stanislaus County Environmental Resources Department attempted to conduct a health inspection at the restaurant Feb. 2, but it was closed and had an order from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office posted on the door. The undated order stated that the premises have been delivered to the property owner in accordance with a court order and notice to vacate, and that the tenants must contact the landlord to retrieve any property left on the premises. An operator with a neighboring food facility told the inspector at the time of the visit that Blaze had been closed for more than three months.
Magnolia Southern Kitchen, 4937 Beckwith Road in Modesto, operated in the former Catfish House building for two and a half years before announcing on its Facebook page that it would permanently close on Dec. 22, 2023. The reason for the closure of the family-owned restaurant that served meat-and-three plates and other traditional Southern meals was not disclosed. The last post on the restaurant’s Facebook page reads, “I just wanna say thank you to everyone who came by to support us on our way out. I laughed, cried, and got to serve you all one last time. I will truly miss you all, serving you guys, memorizing some of your orders, laughing together and so much more. I will keep you updated about anything we do in the future.”
Marie Callender’s, 3500 Coffee Road, announced for the second time in its 40-year residency in northeast Modesto that it would be shutting down permanently. While the first time it closed wasn’t so permanent, this time appears to actually be for good, as plans are already in the works for the building to be demolished. The property owner has sold to McDonald’s, which will build a 3,608-square-foot fast-food eatery with a double drive-thru to replace the 10,232-square-foot restaurant that still stood as of Tuesday.
Mexicali Grill, in McHenry Village, announced on Facebook in August 2022 that it transferred ownership to another member of the family after 19 years of business in Modesto. The menu and concept was kept the same, with the addition of meal prep options. “This restaurant has been at the heart of our family for years, but we are ready to move on to our next chapter,” the Facebook post read. The restaurant later reopened as Altos Cocina Y Cantina. A sign on the door now reads “temporary closed, stay tuned.” A Tuesday morning call to the restaurant went unanswered.
The Divine Swine, 825 W. Roseburg Ave. in Modesto, “temporarily” closed on Dec. 31 for remodeling that was estimated to take four weeks. On Feb. 19, the restaurant issued an apology on Facebook for the “long silence” and said, “At each turn during this remodel, long-standing issues with the facility have been uncovered, costing us much time and money. A leaking roof caused years of damage and was a significant blow to our timeline and budget. We’ve repaired, refurbished and replaced every piece of equipment, all new flooring throughout the entire restaurant, drywall, paint, plumbing, etc. This restaurant now meets today’s standards.”
The post said the projected reopening for the restaurant is now mid-March, and new websites, social media and menus will be launched. It appears as though the full redesign, complete with a new restaurant name (Cora), had been in the plans since at least Jan. 29, when Cora’s own Facebook page was launched. Cora will offer “a fusion of comfort flavors, memorable experiences and beverages,” according to the page.
.jpg)