Following South Brooklyn Foundry’s appearance on Kitchen Nightmares, viewers are curious to know whether the eatery survived chef Gordon Ramsay’s fierce critiques. Featured in the eighth episode of Kitchen Nightmares Season 8 in 2023, South Brooklyn Foundry had its flaws pointed out by Gordon Ramsay, like all other restaurants on the show. Now, many are wondering if the place is still open for business or had to succumb to its harsh evaluation.
Here’s everything we know about whether South Brooklyn Foundry shut down or if it is still open.
Did South Brooklyn Foundry shut down or stay open after Kitchen Nightmares?
Sadly, South Brooklyn Foundry shut business in July 2024, after Ramsay’s visit there for Kitchen Nightmares.
In an exclusive interview with Brooklyn Paper, the owners of South Brooklyn Foundry, Rey Martinez and Kelly Agnes, shed light on why they decided to close its doors.
Martinez and Agnes revealed that their experience on Kitchen Nightmares “knocked the wind out of both of [them]” and they realized they had different ideas and visions for the restaurant. “Sometimes things have to break up before better things happen. Rey and I had problems, but at the end of the day we both had the best of intentions for the restaurant, we just thought two different ways about it and that happens sometimes,” Agnes shared.
Although South Brooklyn Foundry had to shut down, Agnes still sported an optimistic outlook, calling the restaurant a “success story.” On a positive note, she noted, “I want to focus on the good times that were shared here. I want to focus on the people that supported me through all of those years, the patrons, I want to thank them so much for believing in us.”
However, the pair did let their thoughts known about the show. Agnes frankly stated that applying to appear on Kitchen Nightmares was the “worst” decision of her career. Martinez too didn’t hold back, stating, “It’s not a cooking show, it’s all about drama for [Ramsay].”
South Brooklyn Foundry’s Instagram page gives us a peek into all the delicacies they had to offer. These include sesame seed-crusted tuna, Lobster Mac and Cheese Balls, and more. The place had an extensive bar menu as well.
