Southern Pacific Smokehouse Announces Closure

restaurant, opened to great fanfare this spring in Novato, announced its closure Tuesday night on its Facebook page with a two-sentence statement and a sign on the door.

"We are deeply sorry to announce we have closed. It was an honor to serve you, and the restaurant hopes to reopen as soon as possible," stated the note on Facebook.

A note taped on the door of the darkened building said the restaurant was closed until further notice.

The closure came nine weeks after a so-so review in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Opened last May in the former Shane Co. jewelers building at , the barbecue and live music venue was a for managing partner Rick Riess and his team.

The 9,100-square-foot restaurant featured a barbecue menu, bar and a separate music venue that was homebase to Phil Claypool, country singer and minority-interest owner.

Facebook comments are expressing disapointment at the loss of the restaurant to Novato's dining scene. This has been a year of restaurant closures that included , and (Grazie reopened under new management).

Calls to the restaurant are going to voicemail, and there is no mention of cancellations to the music venue's event calendar, including the New Year's Eve event with the Tickets Band that was scheduled for Dec. 31.

has stepped up to honor a portion of Southern Pacific Smokehouse gift certificates through the end of January, a move it made when Grazie Cafe first closed. According to an e-mail from Finnegan's management, the staff will honor any Smokehouse gift certificate up to 50 percent of its face value with a maximum of $25 per table.

It is unknown whether other restaurants will step up and match the Finnegan's offer.

Update: and the Two will honor any Smokehouse gift certificate for the month of January and February up to 50% of its face value with a maximum of $25 dollar per table and with a minimum check average of $75 per table. This can not be combined with any other promotions.

at 7416 Redwood Blvd., has also notified Novato Patch that they will be honoring Smokehouse gift certificates through February for up to 50% of the face value, maximum $25 dollar per table with a minimum check average of $75 per table.

has also let Patch know they will accept Pacific Smokehouse gift card/certificates for 50% of the value with a $25 maximum and a minimum of $75 check. They can not be combined with any other promotion or discount.