Blue Shades, a Worcester eatery at 256 Park Ave., has gone out of business, a victim of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant said on Friday.
"I’m writing with the unfortunate news that we will be closing our doors for good for now," reads a post on Blue Shades' Facebook page. "We couldn’t make it through the pandemic with rent being so high and customers are still quarantining. We have loved being able to offer the best single origin coffee and liege waffles and snacks in Worcester."
Not yet a member of The 016? Join nearly 10,000 others who've already became members of our community Sign up today!
By Sunday afternoon, the restaurant had been mostly cleared out and a For Rent sign hung on the door.
Blue Shades opened in November 2017, according to an article in the Worcester Sun. It was started by Samuel Chang, "who came to the city with his family as refugees from Vietnam in 1981, attended South High Community School and was introduced to business at a young age when his parents became franchisees of a national gas station chain on Route 20, which they still own and operate," the Sun reported.
The eatery's specialty was Liège waffles, a type of waffle that's "a street food meant to be eaten with your hands and without a gallon of maple syrup," the Sun wrote.
Customer reviews were overwhelmingly positive. The restaurant had a 5 out of 5 rating on Facebook and 4.6 rating (out of 5) among 155 reviews on Google.
"[H]opefully we will see you at a pop up or event night soon," the Facebook post reads. "We are already plotting our next event night and we are certainly open to catering for the foreseeable future."
What else is happening in and around Worcester? Click here or keep scrolling ⤵️
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:33). High of 68 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Worcester teen who died eating spicy chip to be honored with street
-Worcester's American Vinegar Works has grown loyal fanbase for their locally made product
-Trial delayed for man accused of throwing 7-year-old off I-290 bridge into lake
-TODAY! Traffic advisory for Worcester Firefighters 6K
-A federal judge with Worcester roots has become a focus of president's anger. Here's why
-"Every day is still a challenge': Rutland's George Farrington has had remarkable 10-year recovery from brain tumor
-Baseball movie "Eephus" filmed at Soldiers Field in Douglas
-City Hall tightens security with new screening, patrols
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (26:00): Banned from City Hall — The boundaries of protest
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (48:22): Fallout from the State of the City protest
>FAITH: If you love God, you must love one another, you must love your neighbor
>DINING OUT (brought to you by Patsie Dugan's): Bella Pizzeria brings Brazilian pizza to Worcester
-ICYMI: Stolen Dutch master painting back in Worcester after nearly 47 years — to be shown at Worcester Art Museum
-Related: As Robert Stoddard slept, thieves made off with 9 valuable paintings, including recovered Avercamp
-UMass Memorial shutters 2 clinics, pauses all non-clinical hiring
-WPI lays off 24 employees, citing rising costs and federal uncertainty
-Suspect nabbed in 2024 Allendale Street killing, final unsolved homicide of 2024
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Holden Woman's Club Person of the Year
-Lamoureux Ford offers huge discounts! (2:53)
-Holden Woman's Club announces scholarship winners
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Algonquin track and field athlete does it all - and then some (1:43)
-Paxton begins tough task of cutting budget
-Former M.B.T.A. police sergeant from Rutland found guilty of filing false arrest report
-Auburn police welcome new dispatcher
-Idaho woman indicted for defrauding Town of Orange of $68,000
-Incumbents Ann Marie Foley and Andrew Jefferson keep Grafton Select Board seats
-Leominster council weighs citywide zoning change to fix 4 “pork chop” lots
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Sunday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: James Oliver Band, M'bolo, Jay Sully and more ...
-Central Mass. Mom: Summer bucket lists
-W.S.C. Stay Connected (59:16): Black History Month — Lift every voice and sing & Mechanics Hall portraits
-First Unitarian Church of Worcester to host Summer Sings in June
>OPINION: Ray Mariano: Disaster on Eureka Street — What went wrong?
-Brian Nelson Laurel cartoon on White City amusement park
-Liz Goodfellow: Worcester Speaks No. 10 — Grace Sliwoski
-WCCA-TV's What It's Worth No. 474, Part 1 (27:38): Dr. Satya Mitra, Candidate for Worcester Councillor At-Large
-Unity Radio's Unity in the Community (57:01)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to local Army veteran who passed away at 25
>SPORTS: There’s a lot riding on Doug Marrone’s ability to boost the Patriots offensive line
-Why NBA Draft is so important for Celtics’ future
-Holy Cross baseball teams' season ends in N.C.A.A. Tournament
-“We row for each other”: Holy Cross men’s rowing returns to I.R.A. National Championship
-Bravehearts postponed. Next home game: 6:30 Friday. Get tickets here
-Red Sox lose to Braves, 5-0
-WooSox lose to RailRiders, 3-0
>CARS: Is your car affected by Toyota or Ford recalls? How to check with V.I.N.
>NATIONAL: Florida mom accused of killing son in bid to "exorcise demons"
>TRAGIC: Boy, 8, dies within hours of catching rare infection
>NEW ENGLAND: Mass Pike closure causing 2- to 3-hour traffic headaches (2:24)
-Photos show M.B.T.A. employees working on private cars while on the job, prosecutors say (2:00). Article
-High school student detained by I.C.E. on way to volleyball practice, coach confirms (1:40). Article
>COLLEGES: Assumption Spring Dean's List
-5 things you might not know about the history of the Holy Cross mace
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 7 fascinating facts about the European microstate of Andorra
>BUSINESS: Tips for removing your personal information from data brokers (2:16). Article
-How stock market volatility signals business uncertainty
>SHOPPING: At Home stores set to file for bankruptcy
>HEALTH: Measles outbreak continues to spread throughout the U.S.
-How to treat the common cause of heel pain (1:17)
-Clinical psychologist discusses a new study on motherhood and stress (2:50)
>FOOD: Lea Shell: No fail focaccia recipe
>TV/STREAMING: John Krasinski reveals if he'll appear in "Office" spinoff "The Paper"
>MOVIES: Ralph Macchio on returning to "Karate Kid" films, future of franchise
>CELEBRITY: Sarah Silverman details moment she found out her grandfather allegedly killed her 3-month-old brother
>ANIMALS: Video shows bear cub get a swimming lesson in pool
>HISTORY: Plenty of history behind Worcester C.C.'s U.S. Open centennial
>GOOD NEWS: Vermont gardener digs up rare silver, gold coins in treasure hunt
-Meanwhile, meth-crazed Florida man is bitten by alligator, charges at cops with garden shears
Latest obituaries | | Saturday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
>HELP WANTED
+Multiple positions, Nancy Chang Restaurant
+Police officers, town of Leicester
-Worcester Area Director (part-time), Matthew 25
-Part-time bartender, Patsie Dugan's
See all Help Wanteds | | Job opening? Post it here for FREE today
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather