South Natomas restaurant closes after a ‘rocky short-lived adventure’

After less than a year of business, The Bee’s Cafe in South Natomas closed its doors Saturday.

The restaurant took to Facebook on Saturday to announce its last day, noting the restaurant’s existence was a “rocky short-lived adventure.”

“We tried bringing something unique to South Natomas in hopes to create a different vibe for a really neglected neighborhood,” The Bee’s Cafe said Saturday in a farewell post to customers. “This has been a wonderful experience with some amazing people who came through our doors.”

The Bee’s Cafe on 3315 Northgate Blvd. announced it’s grand opening in May 2021. And since opening its doors, the menu has been filled with a range of sweet and savory breakfast foods, burgers, sandwiches and more.

But the cafe’s journey was shaky from the start.

According to a May 2021 Facebook post, the restaurant served less than 500 meals its opening weekend, again noting a shortage of qualified workers. The restaurant’s hours were cut in hopes of finding helping hands.

In March, the restaurant announced its comeback in an upbeat and cheerful post, noting new additions to its menu and vowing to customers to be one of their “favorite food destinations in Natomas.”

Less than two months later and the reason for the restaurant’s shutdown was its location and again — lack of help, according to its farewell statement.

“We appreciate your support and patronage...we will refocus our energy and knowledge into something better,” The Bee’s Cafe said in its latest statement to customers.

This story was originally published May 2, 2022 at 10:18 AM.