In a striking example of woke cannibalism, a beloved California vegan restaurant chain has been forced to shut its doors—not because of corporate greed or environmental concerns, but due to a ferocious backlash from the very community it once catered to.
Sage Regenerative Kitchen & Brewery, which had been a staple of the plant-based scene for 14 years with locations in Echo Park and Pasadena, announced it will close its doors on Sunday. The decision comes after years of financial struggles compounded by what owner Mollie Engelhart called a “sad victory” for angry vegans who turned on the eatery when it dared to add meat to its menu.
Engelhart and her husband, co-owner Elias Sosa, had been grappling with mounting rent and tax burdens. In a last-ditch effort to save the business, they sold their home and decided to expand their menu in May 2024 to include meat and cheese. But this wasn’t your average fare—these additions were made using regenerative farming practices, a method intended to minimize environmental impact.
“I thought maybe we could merge these two things—my restaurants and my passion for regenerative agriculture—and come to some new pathway,” Engelhart explained.
Rather than applaud the restaurant’s attempt to bridge the gap between sustainable farming and culinary innovation, many of Sage’s vegan patrons unleashed their fury. Social media and review sites lit up with one-star reviews, with furious vegans accusing the restaurant of betraying its core principles.
“Will never eat here now that they serve meat. I’m sure y’all lost a lot of your vegan base when you added meat. Disgraceful,” one angry Yelp reviewer proclaimed.
Animal rights group PETA jumped on the pile-on, writing in response to Sage’s closure announcement: “Serving humane-washed meat, dairy, and eggs under the sham of ‘regenerative farming’ betrayed animals, the planet, and kind customers who weren’t duped by your cruel choices.”
For a movement that often touts compassion, the vitriol was astounding. Many vegans expressed outright joy at the restaurant’s demise, labeling it “karma” for daring to pivot toward a broader customer base.
What’s striking about Sage’s downfall is how it underscores the rigidity of ideological purity in certain circles. Despite their commitment to sustainable practices and the environment—values vegans often champion—Engelhart and Sosa found themselves ostracized for deviating from the vegan orthodoxy.
Ironically, Sage’s efforts to save itself through compromise not only failed to attract new customers but alienated its core clientele. Even as some lamented the closure, others couldn’t resist smugly quipping, “Don’t worry, the restaurant will regenerate.”
The story of Sage Regenerative Kitchen is a cautionary tale about the dangers of catering to an audience that demands absolute ideological purity. For businesses trying to adapt in tough economic times, this level of inflexibility can be fatal.
In the end, Sage’s closure isn’t just a loss for its owners; it’s a sad reflection of how ideological dogma can suffocate innovation and progress—even when those efforts are rooted in shared values.
