CookNSolo Says Boycott Did Not Drive Six Restaurant Closures

CookNSolo will close three Federal Donuts & Chicken shops and three Goldie falafel restaurants in Philadelphia by the end of July or early August. Co-owner Steve Cook said inflation, weak weekday lunch traffic and an oversaturated fast-casual market drove the decision, rejecting an anti-Israel boycott group's claim that its campaign caused the closures. Cook said protests had produced short-term increases in business, while the company called the move an economic decision years in the making. The group, co-founded by Israeli-American chef Michael Solomonov, has faced boycott pressure after raising more than $100,000 for United Hatzalah following the October 7 attack.