Two Eureka restaurants closed this month.
Super Smokers BBQ owner Jeff Fitter announced Dec. 11 that his restaurant at 1567 W. Fifth St. served its last meals Dec. 14. Steve Black and Ron Skinner first opened the barbecue restaurant in 1996, and Fitter took over ownership in 2017.
Dough Crazy Cafe owners Danielle and William White announced Dec. 15 that their restaurant, at 54 Legends Parkway, closed after Dec. 21. The duo opened the restaurant in March in the former Silver Spoon Donuts & Deli location.
Fitter of Imperial said the decision to close Super Smokers was made earlier in the month. Over the past year, Fitter said he’s been “fighting cash flow” due to having fewer customers.
“We just didn’t have enough business,” he said. “There wasn’t enough revenue coming in to continue to pay the bills.
“I think the economy had a lot to do with it. People aren’t going out to eat as often as they used to. Six Flags attendance was down this year, in my estimation, so not as many came into town.”
Fitter said his 22 or so staff members at the Eureka location have either found other employment in the Eureka or Pacific areas or transferred to his other restaurant, Case & Bucks, 7095 Metropolitan Blvd., in Barnhart.
Fitter said he will continue to offer Super Smokers barbecue at Case & Bucks. He also plans to revamp his catering and food truck businesses later in 2026.
“Super Smokers was born in 1996, built on a love for great barbecue, good people and the belief that a local restaurant could become a true gathering place,” Fitter said on social media. “Over the years, we’ve weathered storms, rebuilds, ownership changes, economic swings, pandemics and more challenges than most businesses ever face.
“Closing a chapter like this is never easy, but we are choosing to remember all the love, loyalty and laughter that filled these walls for almost 30 years. We are proud of what Super Smokers became, and grateful for every person who made it more than just a restaurant.”
Dough Crazy
In a Dec. 15 social media post, the Whites, who live in Eureka, said the last six weeks have been the toughest yet for their restaurant, saying, “We had a lot of momentum, and it just disappeared.”
The restaurant served doughnuts, pastries, salads and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch.
“We cannot put into words how grateful we are for every single person who has walked through our doors – for the early mornings, the kind conversations, the loyal regulars, the first-time visitors who became friends and the support you’ve shown us from day one,” the Whites wrote. “This isn’t what we ever imagined when we opened, and it’s incredibly hard to even type these words. No matter what happens, thank you for believing in us, supporting a small business and being part of the Dough Crazy story.”