Yet another loss to California Ave specifically, and Palo Alto generally.

Our city could adjust its policies and require the large employers on and near California Ave to pay their fair share for the traffic, noise, and congestion they create (through a progressive, rather than regressive, business tax for example) and revenues from that tax could be used to assist our struggling small businesses, including retail and restaurants. Mountain View used that strategy, and Castro Street flourished as a result.

I greatly enjoyed Pastis and wish the owners and staff the best in finding a soft landing. We will miss you on California Ave.!

We've enjoyed Pastis greatly over the years but the last time we were there, both the food and service were severely lacking.

Otherwise I agree with Rebecca Eisenberg above re big businesses doing their fair share. I'd go a step further and say it's long overdue for City Council to bar big employers from having their own cafeterias, thus hurting nearby restaurants.

Let then go to St Michael's Alley, for example, and ask them what Palantir's cafeterias did to their lunch trade.

My wife of 50 years and I "discovered" Pastis shortly after it opened, and it became our go-to place for casual dinners out. After she died, and I re-married, it was comfortable enough for me to bring my new partner there. It may sound corny, but the bustle of the waiters, their interest in one's food experience, and the ambiance took us to Paris for a couple of hours every time. Hopefully, there will be a rebirth.

Best wishes to Max. My husband and I had just moved to College Terrace the week before 9/11 and Max had just begun serving dinner at the old Joanie's spot (later to become Pastis). The food was very good , but the treasure was Max himself--attentive, funny, and clearly loved food and feeding people. We always called it Max's Place...

I first met Max when he and I were fixtures at Joanie's for Saturday morning breakfast - he running the place, me enjoying the walk from my rented house on Olive Avenue. We bonded over a shared love of old cars and Gallic shrugs. I was really happy for him when he finally got to run his own place his own way at Pastis - in the same location where we first met. He always had a smile for me and I was always glad to see him behind the bar, along with all the rest of the "French mafia" characters that I grew to know. I was sorry to see him leave that behind, and am sorry to see Pastis close.

Good luck to all.