The Montclair Girl Team 
Oso Felipe, a Mexican-inspired restaurant located at 2 Erie Street in Montclair, will close this weekend after one year in business. Chef + Owner Damon Wise is also behind the recently closed Pineapple Express Barbeque. The restaurant was known for its emphasis on local art in the decor and fresh flavors on the menu. The restaurant’s opening in January 2025 was the first business in the space after being shuttered for 12 years. Read on for more about what we know about the closure of Oso Felipe.
Background on the Space
In 2002, local restaurateur Richie Cecere and architect John Sherman opened Richie’s Restaurant + Bar, a three-story, 14,000-square-foot swanky supper club next to Walnut Street station converted from a 2,500-square-foot paper mill at 2 Erie Street in Montclair. It was a popular place for locals to grab a cocktail and listen to live jazz. But by the time David Placek’s company, BDP Holdings, bought the building in the spring of 2023, it had been sitting empty for over 15 years.
“It’s 98 percent brand new construction, and Cecere put in the best stuff. He built it well,” David shared with The Montclair Girl. “Damon’s idea was ‘we don’t need to fix the fatal flaws, let’s just make that part of what this place is.” Between the original paper mill structure for solid bones and the beautiful accents of the supper club, there was plenty to work with.
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Translation: the entire space is full of character. The original dark wood fixtures from Richie Cecere’s Restaurant + Bar remain on the top floor, creating a romantic ambiance for a date night or special occasion. On the main floor, the atmosphere is bright, with light colors and natural wood, Mexican knick-knacks throughout, and walls adorned with paintings from local artist Santiago Cohen, tying the space together for a contemporary and fun atmosphere for a night out with friends, family, or casual dates. There is also a patio off the main floor, which is open in the summer for al fresco dining and happy hour.
The downstairs is reserved for private events and is complete with a bar and wine cellar. There’s even a mysterious tiny room behind the cellar. Inside the small space sits a handful of dining tables, a door to the kitchen, and an enigmatic escape hatch built into the ceiling that David has left intact.
The Restaurant
Oso Felipe is named after the cross streets where David grew up in Southern California. The restaurant is meant to be a homage to the Mexican-inspired flavors of David’s upbringing in Southern California and takes advantage of Chef Wise’s experiences cooking in the south and southwest. In fact, it was Chef Wise who initially had the idea to open a Mexican restaurant because he loved the flavor palate.
March 2026 Closure
On March 25th, 2026, the Oso Felipe team shared via Instagram that the spot would be closing on March 28th.
View this post on Instagram
“We’re saddened to announce that Oso Felipe will be closed after this Saturday, March 28th. On Saturday the patio will be open and we’ll be offering an all day happy hour and serving our regular menu all day (so, no brunch menu). We’ve loved getting to know our neighbors here on Erie Street and we’re grateful for the support from guests, fellow business owners, and the Montclair community over the last year+. We’re also proud we could revive this storied space, and especially thankful for our staff, many of whom have been here since day one. We hope to see you for one last margarita or chips & guac sometime this week and hope you’ll all continue to show love to your favorite local spots if you can.”
Owner Damon Wise’s other Montclair restaurant, Pineapple Express Barbeque, closed in January 2026. At that time, he cited the various challenges facing restaurants. He 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.
He was quoted in a March 16th, 2026, article in the New York Times discussing the same topic, saying how a decline in drinking was significantly cutting into the alcohol sales that were a key part of the business plan. “There’s a lot of factors that come into closing a restaurant, and that was really one of them. It kept coming up in all the meetings, ‘What can we do to get people to drink more?’” Mr. Wise said, according to the article.
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The Montclair Girl has reached out to the Oso Felipe team to learn more about what’s next, and will update this piece when we hear back. David Placek, owner of the building, shared the following statement about what’s coming. “While we’re disappointed in the closing of OsoFelipe, we’re excited to bring a new concept and new operator to Montclair in the coming months, both to this space and the former Pineapple Express space at Lackawanna Station. We’ve had inquiries from over 50 restaurants and hospitality groups, proving interest in full-service restaurants is very strong in Montclair and look forward to sharing who will be coming into each location in the months ahead.”
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