In early January, Slapfish, the fast-casual seafood franchise noted for its sustainable practices, shuttered its remaining Orange County location found inside the Outlets at San Clemente.
“We apologize for the inconvenience, but we are permanently closed,” read a sign affixed to its doors. “Thank you for an incredible run, San Clemente! We wish you the best.”
No one at Mac Haik Enterprises, the current owner of Slapfish, responded to a request for comment as to why the eatery closed.
The San Clemente location, which opened December 2016, was the final footprint for the seafood spot. Slapfish currently has one location at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), as well as eateries in Indiana, New Mexico, South Carolina and Utah.
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Slapfish was started by chef Andrew Gruel in 2010 as a food truck concept in Huntington Beach, which later turned into a brick-and-mortar business spawning locations throughout Orange County, including Brea, Tustin, Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach; Los Angeles; and throughout the United States.
In 2022, the company sold its interest to investor Mac Haik Enterprises Ltd. (Gruel, along with his wife, Lauren, opened Calico Fish House in 2023.)
No word yet what, if anything, will replace the vacant San Clemente site of Slapfish.
