Mimi's Cafe, a French-inspired restaurant chain founded in 1978, has closed its Folsom, California, location after 25 years, marking another step in a significant nationwide reduction of its restaurant footprint. The Folsom restaurant at 2719 E. Bidwell St. ceased operations on August 16. A note on the door thanked customers for their loyalty.
The closure is part of a broader trend for Mimi's Cafe, which has seen its number of locations dwindle from 145 in 2013 to just 39 across 10 states, representing a loss of 106 restaurants over the past decade. The chain currently operates 24 locations in California, with the majority situated in Southern California.
The restaurant, known for dishes such as club sandwiches, meatloaf, butter toffee cake, omelets, quiches, crepes, French pot roast, and Chicken Cordon Bleu, was originally founded near Disneyland in Anaheim. It expanded to 11 Southern California restaurants by 1989. Mimi's was acquired by Bob Evans Farms in 2004 when it had around 80 locations, before being purchased by France-based Groupe Le Duff in 2013. Groupe Le Duff subsequently sold the chain to California-based Elite Restaurant Group in February 2020.
While no specific reason was provided for the Folsom closure, the restaurant's disappearance reflects a steady erosion of the chain's presence in Northern California. Previous closures in the region include restaurants in Roseville in 2024, South Natomas in 2015, and Arden Arcade in 2025. The sole remaining Mimi's Cafe in the Sacramento area is now located in Elk Grove.
The Folsom restaurant's assets, including booth sections, dining tables, chairs, and commercial kitchen equipment, have been put up for auction. This includes items such as flat-top grills, ovens, refrigerators, and walk-in coolers.
The challenges facing Mimi's Cafe are consistent with broader difficulties encountered by casual dining chains across the United States. These include rising labor and food costs, increased rents, and evolving consumer preferences. The chain's most recent Colorado location in Colorado Springs also closed permanently in May.