Bleu Chocolat Cafe, which specialized in desserts as well as brunch and lunch, announced on its Facebook page Jan. 3 that it closed.
According to a note posted on the door of the Springfield business at 1602 Walnut St., the original plan was to be closed for a week until Jan. 7.
The closing post read: “It is with great regret that Bleu Chocolat Cafe has closed its doors in Historic Springfield. I would like to thank everyone for their amazing support to Bleu Chocolat Cafe.”
Its Facebook page created 3,350 likes in a year. It opened in November 2018, according to the page.
Co-owner and chef Erika Cline did not respond to phone calls, texts and social media requests for comment.
A report on jacksonville.com cited a lack of foot traffic as the primary reason for the closure. The article cites Cline saying she is looking for another spot for her business and that she plans to reopen featuring desserts and candies. The new business would be called Bleu Chocolat Chocolatier.
Cline is a credentialed pastry chef. She has been a contestant on the Bravo channel’s “Top Chef Just Desserts” and served as a judge on the Food Network’s “Rock ’n’ Roll Pastry Challenge.” She has twice cooked at the James Beard House in New York City.
Bleu Chocolat was on Jacksonville Magazine’s “Top 50 Restaurants” list released late last year. It also was among Visit Jacksonville’s “Best 48 Bites.”
In 2017, hurricanes Irma and Maria destroyed Cline's restaurants in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. She returned to Jacksonville, where she previously worked as the pastry chef at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.
Bleu Chocolat was operated by the Sister Chefs Group LLC, which included Cline, Linda Evans and Tanisha Guy.
In a Daily Record article in June 2018, Cline was preparing for a July opening but the Facebook page showed a soft opening in November. She was making and marketing menu items for events before then.
Cline said she planned to open a separate dessert shop in another location and selling her candies in boutiques within a year of opening Bleu Chocolat Cafe.