The Montclair Girl Team 
After 5 years in Montclair, Pineapple Express Barbecue is closing its doors, according to an Instagram post shared by the owner. The bar and restaurant, located at 1 Lackawanna Plaza, is known for its weekly trivia nights, beer garden-style experience, and menu of BBQ food. The team called owning a restaurant in today’s economy “brutal,” citing rising costs, “aggressive collection tactics,” and lower turnout as reasons for closure. Details are yet to be finalized, but the restaurant has plans for one final celebration. Keep reading to learn more about Pineapple Express Barbecue’s closure in Montclair.
The Closure
On Thursday, January 29th, Pineapple Express Barbecue took to Instagram to share news of its closure. “Fare thee well… (please read),” the first slide said, accompanied by the caption “This is it, guys. Please read. -Damon.” See the post below.
View this post on Instagram
“It is with great sadness that I announce that Pineapple Express Barbecue has closed. We may have one last hurrah on Saturday – more to come on that,” the post read.
The owner, Damon, shared that there are “too many factors working against us right now,” citing rising costs, aggressive collection tactics, people drinking and dining out less, as a few of those factors. He also noted Montclair-specific factors like paid parking and the ongoing school budget deficit crisis.
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Damon expressed gratitude to his staff and the community for their dedication over the years — and the community responded with equal parts support and sadness. The post has now garnered over 2,000 likes, with 457 comments from customers. “Huge bummer. There is no other restaurant in the area that built community and accommodated families quite like PEB. Will def miss this place,” read one comment.
The Montclair Girl has reached out to Pineapple Express for comment and additional details regarding the celebration this Saturday. We will update this piece upon receiving a response.
About Pineapple Express + Other Montclair Ventures
Pineapple Express first opened in summer 2021, taking over the former Pig + Prince space at 1 Lackawanna Plaza. Chef Lauren Hirschberg of Turtle + The Wolf recruited Chef Damon Wise, former executive chef at Craft, a Manhattan-based restaurant run by Tom Colicchio, and the Monkey Bar. The team took full advantage of its large outdoor patio, hosting all kinds of events. The dog-friendly patio was also a popular destination for pups and their people during good weather. Inside, the restaurant hosted many open-mic nights, karaoke, trivia nights, and other activities. The menu was fully gluten-free, including the breads and buns.
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Chef David is also behind Oso Felipe, another Montclair restaurant. Oso Felipe opened in summer 2025 and also became a local favorite for its delicious Mexican food and laid-back vibes.
The Montclair Girl has reached out to the Lackawanna Plaza team to learn more about what business or businesses may take over the space. We will update this piece when we hear back.
There are several new businesses, including restaurants, coming to Montclair in 2026. Read our list here.
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