WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.—Ending its 17-year run in Woodcliff Lake, Blue Moon Mexican Cafe has closed at 42 Kinderkamack Road, calling it quits effective Oct. 7.
Howard Felixbrod, the restaurant’s owner and founder, told Pascack Press on Oct. 8 he’s sold to another restaurateur who intends to open another Mexican restaurant on the site this fall.
The restaurant was advertising specials including Boozy Brunch, live music and Bar Blue events, catering and parties, and Halloween @ The Moon.
This reporter had just decided on Blue Moon as a date night destination with his wife, and was musing about the Carne Arrachera, $23.95, a 12-oz. skirt steak marinated and grilled to perfection, topped with roasted jalapenos and served with grilled vegetables and Mexican rice, when the restaurant closed.
In a note to fans, Felixbrod wrote on Oct. 8, “Over the years we have had so many loyal guests and amazing employees it is sad to think about, but as someone once said, ‘All good things must come to an end!’”
He added, “I want to thank everyone who has ever dined and drank with us.”
Felixbrod, who once had outlets in Manhattan, now has Blue Moon Mexican Cafes in Englewood and Wyckoff and in Bronxville, N.Y. He said he’ll continue to take catering orders.
Felixbrod told Pascack Press his Woodcliff Lake location had some 30 employees, some of whom he was able to move to his other locations.
He blamed business pressures common to restaurants, including a rise in the minimum wage and competition from app-based delivery services, such as GrubHub, that compete with his own delivery option.
“It’s good for people but not good for the restaurant. It takes a cut out of our income,” Felixbrod said.
He added that “The industry is changing very rapidly and it’s difficult for any restaurant to make money. We’ll see what happens. I’m not getting any younger and it’s time to slow down a little bit.”
Asked about the restaurant’s relationship with Woodcliff Lake, Felixbrod said, “We’ve always been very community oriented. This is a big change.”
The company’s website notes that area patrons have made good use of restaurant Community Nights, in which any non-profit organization, community group, sports team, school, church, or temple are welcome to choose a night to dine at Blue Moon, and the restaurant donates 20% of those sales back to the organization.
The company says that through the end of 2018 it donated more than $542,500 to participating nonprofits.