Tabitha Brown Closes LA Vegan Restaurant

Beloved social media personality and entrepreneur Tabitha Brown has opened up about the difficult decision to close her Los Angeles-based vegan restaurant, Kale My Name, less than a year after its launch. While the venture resulted in a significant financial loss, Brown emphasizes that the experience provided invaluable lessons that far outweigh the monetary cost.

From Viral Inspiration to Business Partnership

Brown’s journey into the restaurant business began after a viral video she created for Kale My Name’s founder, Nemanja Nekac Golubovic, while she was living in Chicago. She felt a strong connection to the restaurant and expressed a desire to partner if an L.A. location ever opened. As fate would have it, Golubovic soon approached her with the very idea, and Brown saw it as a divine sign.

Becoming a 50/50 partner, Brown acknowledged she was new to the restaurant industry. Despite some reservations about the chosen building, she ultimately trusted Golubovic’s confidence in the venture. This partnership, however, would soon reveal significant challenges.

Internal and External Challenges

Brown shared on the “Not My Best Moment” podcast that staffing presented immediate hurdles. She hired friends and family, some of whom lacked the necessary skills for their roles, inadvertently setting them up for failure. Additionally, she revealed instances where some employees allegedly attempted to exploit the restaurant through staged slip-and-fall incidents, though these were caught on camera.

However, the most critical issue stemmed from the building itself. Brown discovered that the foundation was not sturdy, leading to literal ceiling collapses. The ongoing structural problems and potential code violations made it impossible for her to ensure the safety and quality of the food, especially with her name attached to the brand. “I can’t have a kitchen with food that people say ‘This is Tabitha Brown’ and a ceiling is falling and stuff is falling into this food. I can’t take that risk,” she stated.

The True Value of the Loss

After just eight months, Brown made the difficult decision to close the restaurant, feeling divinely guided that the location and venture were not meant to be. The experience led to the loss of some friendships, but more significantly, a substantial financial loss. “I lost a lot of money,” she admitted.

Despite the financial setback, Brown views the experience as a profound learning opportunity. She highlighted that her diversified business portfolio allowed her to absorb the loss, even noting it had a positive impact on her taxes. “The lesson was more valuable than dollars,” she concluded. “Don’t jump into anything just because it feels good.”