LONG ISLAND CITY — A popular farm-to-table eatery that's been in Court Square for nearly two decades and earned fame after an appearance on a Food Network show is closing, its owner said.
Sage Roadhouse, formerly known as Sage General Store, will serve its last brunch Sunday. The lease is up for the restaurant's space at 24-20 Jackson Ave., according to owner Leslie Nilsson, who said she's now planning to focus attention on her catering company instead.
"We had a great run," Nilsson told DNAinfo New York Friday. "I helped develop this community ... helped put Long Island City on the map, and I'm very proud about that."
Nilsson first opened her eatery under the name Sage American Kitchen in 1997 in a small storefront on Jackson Avenue near Purves Street, a few blocks away from its current site. The first location had only three seats and served take-out lunches, mostly to workers from nearby Silvercup Studios.
"Honestly, when we first opened Sage American Kitchen, there was nothing in Long Island City," she said, crediting the film studios' crews with keeping the eatery afloat in its early days. "We didn't really get any foot traffic."
In 2008, they moved to their current storefront at Jackson Avenue between Pearson and Court Square West, adding table seating and a new name, Sage General Store.
The restaurant gained fame in 2011 when its bacon mac-and-cheese and rotisserie chicken was featured on Guy Fieri's show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives."
Nilsson changed the name of the restaurant to Sage Roadhouse earlier this year, tweaking its menu and adding live music performances to its events roster.
Fans who miss the eatery's food can book Nilsson's catering company, Bartleby and Sage, for weddings and special events. They'll also be featured at the annual Taste of LIC food festival on June 13.
Sage Roadhouse's last day will be Sunday, when it plans to hold its final bacon brunch (a 3-course bacon-centric menu) followed by a farewell party that will last until 7 p.m., according to the restaurant's Facebook page.
"We're just going to have a hootenanny," Nilsson said.
