A vegan restaurant in downtown Charleston that doubled as a nightlife destination is permanently closing its doors.
Neon Tiger, which specializes in vegan variations of Philly cheesesteaks, crab cakes, pizzas and more, will serve its last customers on March 30, just under four years after opening at 654 King St.
The business is owned by Charleston restaurateur John Adamson, who for 20 years made a living from pepperoni pizzas, cheeseburgers and sausage scrambled eggs while operating local restaurants like The Rarebit.
After he happened upon the popular Goats of Anarchy account on Instagram, chronicling one woman’s efforts to rehabilitate goats with special needs, he became a self-proclaimed vegan activist. His own vegan restaurant would come next.
Before cutting ties with The Rarebit, Adamson helped to implement a vegan menu there.
Forced to delay its opening amid the pandemic, Adamson debuted Neon Tiger over the summer of 2020 in the space previously occupied by Juliet and the original location of Butcher & Bee.
In a Facebook post telling diners about Neon Tiger's closure, Adamson and his team did not give a reason for the abrupt announcement. Ownership could not be immediately reached for comment.
“We want to thank you for 4 amazing, cruelty-free years,” the post said. “Pushing the boundaries of what vegan food can look and taste like has brought us endless amounts of joy and we’ll cherish our time spent at 654 King Street.”
In recent months, Neon Tiger has welcomed local DJs to the restaurant following the conclusion of dinner service. The restaurant will do so one last time March 30, when DJ Dolla Menu, Porch Dogs, violinist Seth G. and others will help Charleston “wish farewell to our beloved Neon Tiger properly.”
Tickets for the live music, which will start at 9 p.m., can be purchased at the door. Neon Tiger diners from that evening can attend for free.
