Everett’s vegan comfort food staple to shutter Sunday

Published 2:08 pm Thursday, October 22, 2026

EVERETT — The Bayside Cafe, a plant-based Everett diner, will serve its final orders on Sunday.

The news came Monday, when the popular eatery announced on social media that, after six years, it would close its doors following declining sales. The cafe was one of Everett’s few entirely vegan restaurants and hosted a variety of local shows and events.

“I know this may be a shock to hear, and we are so sorry to the communities who call us home,” the post read. “The vegan community, the live-music community, mutual aid groups, the LGBTQIA+ community, activists, and most of all those who have been with us since the beginning. Six years is a pretty good run for any restaurant. We only wished to be here and grow with you.”

Jasper Mosbacher and Ryan Housner opened Bayside during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a menu full of diner comfort food sans the animal products, The Daily Herald previously reported.

On Sept. 1, Sean Burke, founder of the mobile vegan pizzeria The Pizza Resistance, took over the cafe. In the August announcement, the cafe gave thanks to Mosbacher, who would reportedly remain involved through coordinating bookings and catering, for building the restaurant’s foundation.

Burke declined to comment Thursday.

For Housner, it’s hard to put his feelings on the closure into words, he said Wednesday.

“I put a lot of work into creating a fun menu,” Housner said. “Can’t really get a lot of the food that they serve around here. So it’s something special.”

Bayside’s menu featured plant-based versions of classic bar foods, such as wings made of seitan with sugarcane “bone.”

Housner left Bayside last summer and now owns the Strange Ways Bar and Stage in Everett.

As of Thursday, Mosbacher did not reply to requests for comment.

Bayside’s new management team believed they “could turn things around,” Monday’s post said. While they experienced setbacks such as equipment failures, staff shortages, building maintenance and compliance issues, it primarily came down to slow sales.

“Financially, we just haven’t been able to make this home viable,” the post said.

The cafe has seen a 30% decline in sales month over month since August, the post said, and despite some successful events, most ran at a loss.

“We get it,” the post said. “The current economy is tough. Folks are going out less, and spending less on meals.”

The cafe put up a fight, writing that it “tried borrowing more money, looking for investors or someone new to take the helm.” While Bayside wrote it hopes an animal rights organization will take over and create a non-profit, so far no bites, the post said.

So, what’s next?

For its last week, the cafe encourages people to stop by the 2913 W Marine View Dr. restaurant while it uses the remaining inventory and hosts ticketed events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Individuals should check the cafe’s Instagram, @the_bayside_cafe, to ensure the eatery is able to open, as some staff have already moved on, the post said.

“We will miss the hell out of all of you,” the post concluded.

Jenna Millikan: 425-339-3035; jenna.millikan@heraldnet.com; X: @JennaMillikan