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Chez TJ Closes After 43 Years in Mountain View

Health issues plus financial strain drove the decision, a sign of waning demand for multi-course fine dining.

Overview

  • The restaurant said on Instagram that it is shutting down, and local reporting confirms the dining room has closed.
  • Owner George Aviet says long-running health problems and mounting costs made it impossible to keep operating.
  • Aviet reports fewer post-pandemic diners, expensive remodels that did not draw crowds, and less appetite for long, $200 tasting menus.
  • He plans to sell or lease the Victorian property but fears its historic listing and a past council rejection of redevelopment will deter buyers.
  • Opened in 1982, the restaurant became a training ground for notable chefs and held Michelin recognition for years before being dropped in 2025.