Longtime USC Village restaurant Honeybird will be closing its doors for good on March 9.
In a press release, Honeybird stated, “It is with a heavy heart that we announce that we will be closing our USC Village location.”
Nestled in between Starbucks and Stout Burgers and Beers, Honeybird offered a wide variety of food options including fried chicken, sandwiches, salads and sides like mac and cheese, waffles and cole slaw.
Honeybird, similar to other Village stores, has been considered a pricier meal option for the college students surrounding the area.
“I’m on the student meal plan, I would go to the restaurants if they were cheaper and more affordable, but at the same time, I know they’re all kind of expensive because they’re all not like fast food or anything,” said Isaac Ashe-McNalley, a freshman studying geodesign. “It’s not like everyone can afford to just buy or spend $20 on every meal.”
The restaurant was established when the Village was created in 2017, its seven-year anniversary falls on the same day the chicken joint will shutter its USC-adjacent location.
Honeybird listed their reasoning for shutting its doors in their statement, “As the years have gone by we have seen less and less business which ultimately has led us to make the difficult decision of closing this location.”
USC students themselves admit to not stopping by this food joint very often.
“I’ve only been there once, but I feel like the chicken sandwich is pretty good. I don’t think they’re the cheapest,” said Lauren Kim, a freshman studying psychology.
Kyndred Lewis, a freshman studying international relations and global economy, had not frequented the spot very often, “I’m not really gaining or losing anything and the couple of times I’ve eaten there, it’s just been okay.”
Though, Honeybird will be missed.
On Instagram, one student commented on Honeybird’s official goodbye post, “where else am I gonna get a firebird sandwich during lunch [sic] wish you all the best in wherever you’ll end up next, honeybird! [sic]”
Honeybird brought a friendly staff, and a hangout place to enjoy great food with friends and family to all USC students and visitors. To them, the closing of Honeybird comes bittersweet.
Now would be the time to bid the birds a great migration. Their statement finished, “Come by and say goodbye and have some fried chicken before we leave!”
Honeybird only has one other location in La Cañada, Flintridge that opened in 2016. There’s no news on what might be coming next, but this marks the end of an era for Honeybird at USC.