Cook's Seafood, a nearly century-old Bay Area institution, has abruptly closed both of its restaurant and fish market locations. The closure came at the end of October, marking the end of a 98-year run for the beloved eatery.

A sign posted at the original Menlo Park location, which first opened its doors in 1928, announced the sudden closure. "As you know, this year has been very difficult for restaurants," the sign stated. "Our Team thanks you for all your years of visiting us, and we’ll miss you."

The restaurant was known for its signature fish and chips, catfish, sand dabs, and salmon. Cook's opened its second location in Pleasanton just last year, following nearly a decade of planning for the expansion. Both establishments featured integrated fish markets alongside their dining rooms.

Almanac News had previously referred to Cook's as a "landmark" in a 2001 article detailing its history. The business was founded by Bill Cook, a former police officer, who reportedly was inspired to serve fish and chips after experiencing the dish while stationed in England during World War I. He was quoted in a 1989 Peninsula Times Tribune report suggesting Cook's might have been among the first establishments in California to offer the dish.

Over the decades, ownership changed hands. After Bill Cook sold the restaurant to Robert Rahe, it was later purchased by Roy Crumrine in 1963. Crumrine had begun his career at the restaurant as a dishwasher in 1955. Following Crumrine's death, his son took over the business.

Cook's Seafood's closure is the latest in a series of challenges facing the Bay Area's food and drink sector. Rising operational costs and other financial pressures have led to the shuttering of other long-standing businesses. In September, Lutticken’s Deli and After 5 restaurant in Menlo Park closed after 45 years, with management citing a decline in profitability. More recently, Red’s Place, a San Francisco bar claiming to be the neighborhood's oldest, announced its closure by the end of the year due to escalating costs and significant repair needs.