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- Frankie & Essl's, a popular breakfast shop near Liberty Park, is closing permanently.
- The closure follows a flooding incident caused by a burst pipe earlier this year.
SALT LAKE CITY — A popular breakfast sandwich shop next to Liberty Park is permanently closing after flooding earlier this year.
Frankie & Essl's, 490 E. 1300 South, announced Friday it will not be reopening after it was forced to close in February.
"It's unfortunate that the store's ending happened the way it did, but hey, you can't control everything. We thank you for allowing us to be a part of your community," the business wrote on Instagram.
Frankie & Essl's opened in January 2023 to rave reviews, adding to the city's growing breakfast sandwich scene. Macy and Clint McClellan, the shop's owners, told Salt Lake Magazine last year they were inspired by the breakfast sandwiches in the Pacific Northwest. They named it after their dog Frankie, while Essl was more of an acronym for "Egg Sandwiches Salt Lake."
It quickly built a fan base, earning 4.8 out of five stars on both Google and Yelp reviews over the past two years.
However, the restaurant ran into unforeseen challenges, beyond the rising cost of eggs, that have impacted local businesses. It announced on Feb. 19 that it would be closed until further notice after a pipe in a unit above it "caused extensive damage" to the restaurant when it burst. There had been no other updates until Friday.
"Salt Lake, we thank you, we love you, and we hope that you strive to help small businesses succeed in this ever-challenging environment," the business officials added.
The announcement came a day after Garage on Beck, a popular bar and grill on the north end of Salt Lake City, announced it was also closing after a completely different situation. The bar and grill had temporarily closed for months after a fire broke out in October 2023.
Frankie & Essl's customers took to social media Friday to express their sorrow.
"This is so heartbreaking, y'all are hands down the best!" one person wrote. "I hope y'all can come back soon!! I'm literally so sad."
