QuickTake:

The Davis, a downtown eatery and nightclub, had been in business for 20 years. Meiji, a Japanese-style pub, served patrons in the Whiteaker for nearly 16 years.

Two longstanding Eugene restaurants — The Davis and Izakaya Meiji — have closed. 

After two decades in business, The Davis closed in mid-April, stating on its website, “It’s meant so much to us and we’re sad to say goodbye, but all things come to end. C’est la vie. We have nothing but gratitude for our loyal patrons, we appreciate and wish you all the best.”

The Davis, a 20-year-old dining and nightlife institution at Olive Street and Broadway in downtown Eugene, closed in mid-April. Credit: Taylor Goebel / Lookout Eugene-Springfield

It signifies a loss for both downtown Eugene’s dining scene and its nightlife: The 20-year institution served seasonal Pacific Northwest cuisine and new American eats. After hours, The Davis transitioned into a lively cocktail lounge with DJs and themed music nights.

In the Whiteaker, Izakaya Meiji posted a sign on its front door Thursday that read: “Meiji will be closed permanently as of April 30th, 2026. Thank you for the 16 years (almost). Hopefully there will be something exciting happening here in the near future.”

According to two employees standing outside the restaurant Thursday, who declined to be named, the staff was laid off the same day Meiji closed.

Izakaya Meiji graced the Whiteaker’s vibrant dining scene for more than 15 years, offering a seasonal menu of Japanese comfort food, such as curry udon and chicken karaage.

The space was designed in the style of an izakaya, which is a Japanese pub where people traditionally go to drink and share small plates in an intimate space. At Meiji, patrons could snack on miso butter oysters and skewered meats while sipping on sake, wine or one of the restaurant’s 100-plus whiskeys.  

The restaurant opened in 2010.

Lookout Eugene-Springfield will have more on the two restaurant closures and what’s next for each space when information is available.

Taylor Goebel covers Lane County's food and drink scene. She has nearly a decade of experience in multimedia journalism, having reported across the Mid-Atlantic on dining, food systems, education, healthcare, local elections, labor and business. She was most recently a food reporter in Washington state, where she documented a fourth-generation fishing family, covered a David vs. Goliath conflict between a national coffee chain and a small Turkish cafe, and had many culinary firsts, from ensaymadas and gilgeori (Korean street) toast to morels and black cod.