"closing" news and stories

Iceland will soon lose McDonald's after the island's only franchisee decided to shutter the three fast-food restaurants he owns in Reykjavik.

Lyst Hr., Iceland's only McDonald's franchise holder, decided to close its restaurants next weekend because of the falling price of Iceland's currency, the Associated Press reports.

"The economic situation has just made it too expensive for us," Magnus Ogmundsson, the managing director the company told the AP. The restaurants will reopen under a new name, Metro, serving locally produced foods.

Iceland is the ninth country to lose all its McDonald's restaurants. The chain pulled out of seven countries in 2002, and in 1996, Barbados lost its only McDonald's due to slow sales, the AP said.

[Via Associated Press]

Add Albertson's to the roll call of companies shutting doors due to the recession. The grocery chain has announced that they will be closing multiple stores in economically slammed locations like Florida, Texas, California and Nevada. Albertson's will still be the second-biggest supermarket chain in the U.S., but a bit of the bloom will be off the rose (or, if you prefer, ripeness off the tomato or mayo off the macaroni salad).

Of course, this means that there are bargains to be had at stores that are being terminated, with discounts of 10-90% off. I myself have picked up bags full of Indian specialties for 75% off (thus, my normally overpriced $4 jaipur vegetables are now a solidly discounted dollar), as well as staples like soup and beans for less than a buck and stacks of disposable foil baking pans for a dime apiece. I also scored some Bumble & Bumble hair products for under $10, but you can't eat those.

If you see an Alberston's with a "Store Closing" sign, it's worth checking out.

The Cupcake Bakeshop was one of the first food blogs I read, back when I was just dipping my toe into the world of online recipes, writing and drool-worthy food photography. I've always been inspired by Cheryl's creative approach to baking and the ways in which she tried to re-imagine familiar tastes so that they translated to a single serving cake.

Last week, after a little over three years, more than 75 original cupcake recipes and the birth of her child, Cheryl is closing the Cupcake Bakeshop. The silver lining in this unfortunate storm cloud is that her recipes are still online and will continue to be available to serve as a inspiration resource to aspiring cupcake bakers everywhere.

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It looks like Mario Batali is giving up on one of his New York eateries, Bistro du Vent, only 15 months after its opening. The Bistro is located on 9th St. in midtown Manhattan. It received reviews ranging from "not bad" to "deeply satisfying" and Frank Bruni gave it two stars, so the food isn't what is causing the sale. Its downfall was probably helped by the scandal that occurred last year, in which "four employees - including a chef - were caught on [security] videotape in a steamy after-hours sex romp" in the restaurant. Though the employees were subsequently fired, it's not the sort of thing that necessarily enhances a restaurant's reputation. Bistro du Vent has 12 years left on the lease and a $13,500 monthly rent.

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