Cook’s Seafood, a family-owned seafood restaurant and fish market that served Bay Area communities for nearly a century, has permanently closed both of its California locations.
The restaurant announced that its Menlo Park flagship and its Pleasanton location would cease operations effective October 28, 2026. The announcement came as a surprise to employees, some of whom reportedly learned of the closures through text messages shortly before their scheduled shifts.
Founded in Menlo Park in 1928 by Bill Cook, the business began as a small fish-and-chips counter before expanding into a full-service restaurant and fresh seafood market. Over the decades, it became a neighborhood institution, offering fresh fish, shellfish, fish and chips, clam chowder, lobster rolls and other seafood favorites.
The company opened its second location in Pleasanton in May 2025, following several years of planning and development. However, the expansion was short-lived, with the restaurant closing alongside its longtime Menlo Park location.
In its closure announcement, the Cook’s Seafood team cited a difficult year for the restaurant industry but did not provide additional details about the decision. The closures reflect the ongoing challenges facing seafood restaurants and other food-service businesses, including operating costs and an increasingly difficult restaurant environment.
The loss marks the end of a 98-year chapter in Bay Area dining and highlights the challenges of sustaining independent, family-owned seafood businesses across California.