Thelma on Clinton, Melissa O’Donnell’s reboot on Salt Bar, has closed after three years in business.
Chef/owner Melissa O’Donnell announced the closure on Facebook Friday and later told us she’s developing a new concept for the space at 29 Clinton St. She’s not quite ready to reveal the new plan publicly.
Thelma on Clinton and Salt Bar rode the ups and downs on the Lower East Side for about 15 years. This year’s Michelin Guide touted the restaurant’s “down-to-earth service” and praised the casual spot as, “the kind of unpretentious restaurant everyone wants around the corner from home.”
In the past couple of years, O’Donnell saw a drop-off in her loyal customer base, as Clinton Street transformed. While there are new arrivals on the block (Clancey, Speedy Romeo, Garfunkel’s), other established businesses have faded away in the past few months. They include Tapeo 29 (the 12-year-old tapas restaurant) and Ariel’s Bistro, which is being sold to new operators.
