Hi Felicia, a popular Oakland restaurant that was recently added to the Michelin Guide, abruptly announced its immediate closure Wednesday after saying the establishment was the victim of a break-in.
“Last night Hi Felicia was violently broken into. … Everything in the restaurant is in disarray. This will take a long time to clean up, and it is with a heavy heart that I announce Hi Felicia will be closing effective immediately,” Imana, chef-owner of Hi Felicia, wrote on Instagram.
“This journey has been almost 3 years, and I have enjoyed so many memories along the way,” Imana continued. “It changed my entire life, and anyone who knows me knows that I am usually one for speeches, but right now, I am at a loss for words. Last night wasn’t a coincidence, it was a message to me that this chapter of my life is over.”
Less than seven months ago, Hi Felicia, located in Oakland’s Uptown at 326 23rd St., was added to the highly influential Michelin Guide.
“I am at a loss for words,” Imana told SFGATE back in November about the honor. “I’m so thankful to my team, both past and present, and I know without them, this wouldn’t be possible. I am eternally grateful for this recognition.”
Hi Felicia opened its brick-and-mortar location in 2022 after Imana first ran Hi Felicia Supper Club from her Oakland apartment with major success. The Michelin Guide gave a nod to the Oakland restaurant for its unconventional approach to fine dining and its ability to create a space with “exuberant irreverence” for diners.
As for what comes next, Imana wrote on Instagram: “When one door closes another opens. I am going to be spending the next several weeks in the space, preparing for my next venture. There were so many iterations of Hi Felicia, and I learned so much. I want to pour what I have learned into my next project. I am going to open a sleek & sexy wine bar in what was formerly Hi Felicia.”
SFGATE reporter Susana Guerrero contributed to this report.