My day job includes slinging booze for the masses at a local lounge, so while politics and religion are generally frowned upon as friendly banter over libations, discussions about food and drink are common. A statement made by a guest sitting at the rail recently was something to the effect of, "You can't depend on the Tacoma dining scene, so don't get attached." This rings true to me as of late. There have been multiple restaurant closures this year it seems, though new establishments are opening their doors just as swiftly. It's hard to keep up. Online, when a closure is announced, there are dozens of people who claim to not have even known it had opened to begin with and I'm left dumbfounded ... is that even possible?

They say when one door closes, another opens. Here's a few now:

Alegre gained a reputation for scooping up delectable bites of gelato paired with house-made baked goods and roasted bean concoctions. Sadly, they've decided to close the doors of their Proctor District gem.

Point Ruston champagne bar, Blue Octopus, recently announced that they would be closing their doors as well. But swiftly followed up with an update that they will be residing in the space that once housed Alegre. Which is refreshing news because it means at least that space will remain a locally owned hot spot in the quickly expanding Proctor pocket district.

After the closure of B Sharp about a year ago, Black Kettle became the hub of the Stadium District, hosting a plethora of events including open mics, trivia fun, civic engagements and storytelling gatherings. They left fans reeling after announcing via social media, that after a recent break-in, trying to recoup has been a struggle. They closed their doors within the week of their announcement. Leaving a void in the hearts of many.

Anthem Coffee seems to be doing the opposite of other cafe locales and has opened several sister stores, recently. They've added University Place and Old Town to the established Puyallup and Downtown Tacoma spots. And are expecting to open their Stadium District branch up this summer!

Sixth Ave. has already established itself as a bustling hub for foodies of all sorts, and has added another dining option to the itinerary. The Pizza Press opened its doors two weeks ago, inviting patrons to a choose-your-adventure pizza experience, or they can order from the cleverly newsroom-themed pizza pies. Bonus, they have vegan cheese, gluten-free crusts and craft brews to choose from.

Gig Harbor staple, The Tanglewood Grill, is now under new ownership. Jean O'Neill and husband Joe Brockert will keep the ambiance and menu the same for now, but plan to expand operating hours and offer elevated bar bites and more wine and libation options. With O'Neill's restaurant experience and warm personality, I suspect an excellent transition.