Montgomery’s nationally-honored Plant Bae vegan restaurant closing its doors

Interior of Montgomery’s Plant Bae restaurant – Photo from WAKA Action 8 News

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Plant Bae, a nationally-honored vegan restaurant in downtown Montgomery, is closing its doors after six years.

Owner Quebe Merritt announced that her restaurant on Lee Street will close after serving its final customers today until 7PM.

“Since opening our doors in May 2020, you have allowed us to do something truly special. You tried vegan food for the first time,” the restaurant said on Facebook. “You brought your families and friends. You celebrated with us, shared our name, voted for us, encouraged us, and continued to show up. Because of you, Plant Bae grew from an idea into a beloved part of our community, and I will always be grateful.”

Action 8 News profiled the restaurant in 2021, when Merritt said health concerns following the birth of her second child had her rethinking her diet. She said she noticed dairy was one of the biggest factors, so she tried a 30-day vegan diet, and never looked back.

“My cholesterol had dropped by almost 30 points, I’d lost weight, my acne had gone away, I was breathing really clear, it was April everyone was talking about allergies and I was clean as a whistle.”

In May of 2020, Merritt decided to make her new healthier life choices into her passion, and opened restaurant Plant Bae.

A year later, Plant Bae was recognized by USA Today as one of the Top 20 Vegan Restaurants in the Southeast.

Her restaurant was also awarded an United States of America Trademark.

She encourages her loyal customers to keep following Plant Bae. She said that while the restaurant may be closing, the heart, creativity, and mission behind Plant Bae will remain.

“We’re making room to see what this beloved brand might become next. This isn’t necessarily a period.”