Popular restaurant at Newport Beach’s Fashion Island closes after 32 years

P.F. Chang’s abruptly pulled the plug on its longtime restaurant at Southern California’s ritzy Fashion Island shopping center reportedly after 32 years — with one local claiming stunned workers only learned the news after their final shift.

The Asian-inspired chain’s Newport Beach outpost served its final meals last week, according to a popular Instagram post showing the restaurant dark and deserted. Red and white “Permanently Closed” signs were plastered across the glass doors of the venue, signaling an unceremonious end to the local mall location.

“After 32 years… Last night was the last night for PF Chang’s Fashion Island,” local real estate agent Jeff Butcher wrote alongside a the photo on social media this week. “Sadly their wonderful employees only learned of the closing this morning. No opportunity to say a final good bye.”

The sudden closure marks the latest casual dining titan to be pushed off the property. Adjacent powerhouse chains like The Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen have previously vacated their longtime spaces at Fashion Island as the Irvine Company seems to be reshaping the destination with pricier and trendier options.

For years, the trio of restaurants were fixtures of the Fashion Island experience, complete with long waits and humongous menus. Now, all three are gone. A local history Instagram account, Newport Beach in the Rearview Mirror, marked P.F. Chang’s demise with what amounted to an obituary.

“It’s with a heavy heart we heard about the recent passing of P.F. Chang’s (1994-2026) in Fashion Island, the last remaining restaurant of the three powerhouses that ruled that corner of the retail center for three decades,” the account wrote in a post. “Preceding P.F. Chang’s in closing were the California Pizza Kitchen (1988-2021) and the Cheesecake Factory (1993-2023).”

“Time for a 90’s revamp,” one commenter pleaded. “Bring back yellow brick road, movie tickets under $10, pet store, Sam goody, circuit city, sharper image, nature store… it’s time.”

This month, the Spanish tapas eatery Telefèric Barcelona opened up shop, taking over the space where the fast-casual chain Hopdoddy Burger used to be. Slated to open in September, NYC-based Levain Bakery is also another newcomer. They are famous for their 6-ounce chocolate chip walnut cookies, which go for $5.75 a piece.

“No doubt the Irvine Company has plans for this space along with the adjacent closed Cheesecake Factory and CPK,” Butcher added on Instagram. “Many new restaurants are coming to the area so hopefully the PF Chang crew all land on their feet.”

P.F. Chang’s and the Irvine Company did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

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