Fiction Kitchen, the Raleigh vegan restaurant that captured the hearts of meat-eaters and plant-based fans alike, will close on November 14.
The restaurant originally opened on Dawson Street in downtown Raleigh in January 2013, its signature Kelly green facade serving as a beacon to guests as they made their way in; its colorfully painted interior offering a cheerful spot to dine. At the end of 2023, Fiction Kitchen moved to Gateway Plaza, where it shared space with Mala Pata, a Latin American restaurant.
“It’s very sad to see a spot as loved as Fiction Kitchen close,” Marshall Davis, co-owner of Mala Pata, told the INDY. “People loved it, but it’s a good reminder: If you love a thing, go and support it.”
Over an almost 14-year run, Fiction Kitchen became known for its creative vegan fare, with dishes like their Eastern North Carolina pulled “pork,” made from smoking a plant-based protein in-house, and “fried chicken” and waffles becoming wildly popular.
“We had hoped the move [to Gateway plaza] would give us new life after Covid but we have not been able to get ahead,” owners Caroline Morrison and Siobhan Southern wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday, announcing the closure. The post also pointed to personal health concerns as a reason for sunsetting operations. The INDY was unable to reach the owners for further comment at the time of publication.
In September, Morrison started a GoFundMe “to help keep Fiction Kitchen’s doors open and team together.” On the fundraising page, Morrison pointed to the move, alongside “a slower economy and business loans compounding into a “very difficult financial season.” In 2025, Morrison told the INDY that even though the restaurant sources its food locally, tariffs still have trickle-down effects.
Morrison asked for donations on the GoFundMe to help with payroll for employees to avoid layoffs, writing that she hoped to find a path forward for the business. Close to 300 donors contributed $25,445 to the fund, falling short of the $45,000 campaign goal. After the campaign went live, business appeared to improve temporarily, with Morrison pointing to an 80-150% increase in daily business for at least a full week. In the end, it wasn’t enough, and Morrison cut lunch hours toward the end of October.
This is the third spot to close in Gateway Plaza in the last six months. Brewery Mordecai Beverage Company called it quits in June after six years in business, while smoothie spot The Bomb Bar announced a sudden closure in early October, just shy of two years in business.
“Even if you can’t support a business you love in the way you used to, supporting it at all helps keep the wheels going,” Davis said, acknowledging that he knows economic factors have made it harder for people to support restaurants as much as they might want to. “Even stopping in for a cocktail or a snack, or writing a positive review so other people might be able to find the restaurant, is a good way to support.”
The news prompted an outpouring of support across social media, with many expressing how sad they were to see a premier vegan spot shutter. In an online post, Morrison said there will be no more takeout service, and the last brunch service will be this Sunday, November 8. The last dinner service is scheduled for November 14.
“Your response has been unbelievable,” Morrison said in a Facebook video addressing supporters and fans. “We totally appreciate the support of the community, love y’all.”
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