The owners of Mountain View’s oldest restaurant, Clarke’s Charcoal Broiler, say they can’t weather the coronavirus crisis and have shut down the business for good.
The Blach family, in announcing the “difficult decision” on the restaurant’s website, wrote: “Clarke’s has had a long and successful run for 75 years and we appreciate each and everyone of you for supporting us through the years! Due to COVID-19 and the current extended shelter in place, it has made it impossible for us to continue on.
“Stay healthy and we wish you all the best.”
A rustic throwback, the landmark El Camino Real eatery had been serving burgers, fries, barbecue and milkshakes since 1945. According to the posted history, Clarke’s Charcoal Broiler was established by H.W. Clarke and purchased years later by Jim and Liz Blach.
Son Steve Blach told the Mountain View Voice — whose readers over the years have declared Clarke’s the best burger in town — that he and his siblings and his mother, now 92, decided it would be too tough to stay in business, even with takeout orders.
“It could be another 18 months until we get back to where we were prior to the virus,” he said. “What do you do? You lay off people. You cut hours. You raise prices. And then you’re going to be out of business anyway. It’s a no-win situation.”
The news, first reported by the Daily Post, rocked fans of the restaurant, reportedly the oldest in the city. Hundreds posted their sentiments on social media.
“Please, please, please tell me there is something we can do to raise money to save Clarke’s,” wrote Greg Roumbanis on the Facebook page. “I’m not at all kidding. This can’t happen. How much money do you guys need to keep this going? I’ve been going to Clarke’s since I was a little boy and I’m 42 now. We have to do something to save Clarke’s.”
Another customer, Diane Burgess, quickly added that she is 72 and had been eating at Clarke’s her whole life.
Cameron Ladd said: “I remember when there were three locations: the MV one, another on Stevens Creek Boulevard in Cupertino, and the one in Los Altos Rancho. I hope that, when this is all over, the fantastic burgers that were called ‘Clarke’s’ will be offered to the public again in some incarnation.”
Many begged the owners to reconsider, posting information about small-business relief funds now available during this crisis. One noted that Peninsula residents had helped save another beloved business, Kepler’s Books, from closing many years ago.
Others bemoaned the loss of their favorites: “Best bacon cheeseburger ever.” “Best patty melt ever.” “I will miss you and your chili cheese fries.”
And many customers simply thanked the Blachs for maintaining a welcoming spot for so many years.
“Such a comfortable place to be at, like being at home,” Doris Cecil wrote. “Really going to miss going here on those warm summer nights, when they would have it opened up like a backyard patio. So sorry to see this unique place go. What a sad loss.”
Blach told the Mountain View Voice that the family would extend severance to all employees, including one who had worked for them for 30 years.
