The Cambridge-based fast-casual vegetarian chain Clover Food Lab will close Thursday after 17 years in business.
The company had said March 30 its shuttering was imminent if it did not find a buyer before June. Today it issued a statement saying it had not, and blamed inflation for its demise.
“Food prices are up, delivery prices are up, and a hundred other costs are moving in the same direction … even the less flashy things like cardboard and fry oil,” the release states. “Across the board, our ingredients cost 30-50% more today than they did just two years ago.”
“For years we’ve been navigating the hangover effects of COVID and inflation at every part of our supply chain,” the statement continued.
Clover began as a food truck at MIT in 2008. In November 2023, Clover filed Chapter 1, Subchapter 5 bankruptcy — established in 2020 for small business restructuring when consumer and real estate markets changed — to overhaul operations. The chain exited bankruptcy in April 2024 with 13 locations and the goal of operating 60 locations by 2029.
Today, Clover has 11 locations across Greater Boston, including five locations across Cambridge. Despite struggles, sales at locations open for at least a year rose 8%, on average in 2025 compared to 2024, according to The Boston Globe. It had 182 employees when announcing its pending closure in March. Today’s statement said it now had 170 employees.
Founder Ayr Muir, who stepped down as Clover CEO two years ago, is “devastated” by the news of the closure, he said in a statement to Cambridge Day. “I haven’t been running Clover the past 2+ years, but it’s my team and they are talented and dedicated and I know this isn’t what they were expecting or wanted in any way,” Muir said.
“I hope I can help Clover live on into the future in some way,” Muir added.
During its last two days of operation, Clover asked its customers to eat one last chickpea fritter or Japanese sweet potato and share a memory in person or online.
“You helped make Clover beautiful and unique, and in doing so, you helped change the world for the better,” the press release states. “We should all be very proud of that.”
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