Several restaurants in the prestigious Patriarch Ponds district of Moscow have recently closed their doors, signaling a potential shift in the area’s dining scene. Bocconcino restaurant is set to close on August 3, following the recent closures of Champagne Charlie’s Bistro, Cutta Cutta, Cape, and Amy.

Rising rental costs, changing consumer behavior, and a shift away from the area by its original target audience are cited as key factors contributing to the closures. Commercial real estate consultant Anna Savenko notes that Patriarch Ponds has become a hub for “mass festivities, filming, bloggers,” which has deterred the affluent clientele that once frequented the area’s high-end establishments.

The area has seen rental rates double in the last decade, adding financial strain on businesses. Ombudsman of the restaurant business in Moscow, Sergey Mironov, also points to a general market decline in the city and slower economic growth, with consumers increasingly opting for ready-made food instead of dining out.

While 0.75 Please is still open, it is relocating in mid-August. Industry experts suggest that the closures could lead to empty storefronts and further changes in the area’s commercial landscape. Despite the challenges, Mironov believes that new restaurants will eventually replace those that have closed, and landlords will need to make compromises to attract tenants.