CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Downtown restaurant Tonic, which opened in 2020 in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, will close at year’s end, its owner announced on social media.

The final day of service will be Dec. 28.

“Try as we might, we just couldn’t see a path forward. Things are tough for small business owners right now,” read a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page. “I want to thank the good people of Charlottesville who have visited us over the past 5 years. We felt your love and support. I’m truly proud of what we built, and all the good food and drinks we have put out. I’m proud of the space our team created.”

Tonic serves locally-sourced, seasonal food in a setting that is simultaneously trendy and casual – with an indoor and outdoor bar and a patio. It’s located in the Michie Building on East Market Street, in the space previously occupied by the Tin Whistle, an Irish pub.

It is co-owned by Courtenay Tyler, who also is an owner of Tillman’s on the downtown mall.

“I hope you will consider coming by one last time to support the team as we wind things down,” the Facebook post said. “They are quite simply, the best people I have ever worked with. Sit at the bar, have one last cocktail, and one last meal with us.”