These 6 Phoenix restaurants and bars are now closed

February is high season in Phoenix, and many Valley restaurants are bursting with customers. Thanks to the influx of spring training fans, snowbirds and other warm-winter enthusiasts, the past month didn’t see too many restaurant closures. But a handful of Valley eateries said goodbye.

Here are three restaurants, two nightclubs, and a cupcake bakery that are now closed around Phoenix.

Johnny T’s Brooklyn Pizzeria

Just over a year after opening, Scottsdale slice shop Johnny T’s Brooklyn Pizzeria has closed. The pizzeria was located on the northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard, in the former home of Andiamo, another pizzeria from the same owners. The restaurant shut down due to the high cost of labor, goods and rent, and a lack of weekday business, its owners explained on social media.

Golden Oak Barbecue and Taproom

Golden Oak Barbecue and Taproom made a splash when it opened in downtown Phoenix in October. The teams behind Oro Brewing Co. and Nicky’s Barbecue teamed up to bring smoked meats, Peruvian-inspired sides and craft beer to downtown customers. But not everyone was thrilled with the new restaurant’s arrival. Members of the HOA of Artisan Lofts, the building in which Golden Oak found its home, complained about the smoke. The complaint turned into a larger headache for the restaurant owners when their investors pulled out, leading to the closure of the new downtown barbecue spot just three months after it opened. 

Desert Roots Kitchen

Desert Roots Kitchen has closed its physical location after a turbulent few years. The vegan eatery was operating out of Rainbow Bliss Botanicals, a holistic wellness shop and cafe on Southern Avenue and McClintock Drive. That home was a recent move. Desert Roots had previously served customers in the tree-shaded Courtyard Shops on Mill Avenue for 13 years. Last spring, the restaurant was forced to move due to a significant rent increase. But now, the cafe’s run in its temporary home has come to an end. The business will shift its focus to meal boxes, catering and vending.

Smallcakes

The Ahwatukee location of the bakery chain Smallcakes has closed. The bakery sold ice cream, custom cakes and cupcakes from its storefront on Ray Road. A second Valley location of Smallcakes remains open in Cave Creek.

Bar Smith 

Downtown Phoenix bar and nightclub Bar Smith closed after a final night of service on Feb. 15. The closure comes after a nearly two-year dispute with the owner of the building. Bar Smith opened in 2007. It was a popular spot for live DJ sets and known for its open-air top floor. 

Monarch Theatre

Monarch Theatre opened next door to Bar Smith in 2012. The venue, which hosted live acts and hip-hop and Latin dance parties, had the same owners and the same landlord. It closed alongside Bar Smith, when, according to the bar owners, the locks were changed on the building. A real estate listing has been posted, with the building put up for sale for $3.3 million.