Iconic California steakhouse chain closes another store, only 2 remain

They’re pulling up steaks.

Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse, a once-thriving California restaurant chain, is down to its final two locations after yet another closure.

The Central Valley-born meatery abruptly closed its Visalia outpost Monday — leaving only restaurants in Fresno and Bakersfield still operating after a lengthy period of decline for the franchise, according to the Fresno Bee.

There was no farewell post or public announcement from the company. The Visalia location was simply marked closed on Tahoe Joe’s website.

Restaurateur David Fansler launched Tahoe Joe’s in Fresno in 1995 before later selling the concept.

Fansler is also behind several other Central Valley restaurants, including Pismo’s Coastal Grill, Westwood’s BBQ & Spice Co. and Yosemite Ranch.

The chain has bounced between corporate owners in the years since.

Fresh Acquisitions, which also operated Old Country Buffet, held Tahoe Joe’s before filing for bankruptcy in 2021. BBQ Holdings then bought the steakhouse brand at auction for $5.2 million.

At the time of that deal, only five Tahoe Joe’s restaurants remained.

The chain took another hit after BBQ Holdings was acquired by MTY Food Group in 2022, with its Rocklin and Roseville restaurants also closing.

A San Luis Obispo location had already shuttered shortly before the 2021 sale.

MTY still owns Tahoe Joe’s along with a lengthy roster of restaurant brands including Baja Fresh, Cold Stone Creamery, Papa Murphy’s and Wetzel’s Pretzels.

Tahoe Joe’s surviving restaurants are now at 7006 N. Cedar Ave. in Fresno and 9000 Ming Ave. in Bakersfield.

Its original Fresno restaurant on West Shaw Avenue closed back in 2016.

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