A perpetually packed parking lot is often a good thing for a restaurant. But if the parking lot’s too small it can eventually be an Achilles heel.

Unfortunately, the latter appears to be the case with Hound & Harvest, a local “backyard bistro” with parking for only about a dozen vehicles.

Since opening in summer 2023 in Huntsville’s medical district, Hound & Harvest’s tasty/healthy fare and pet-friendly al fresco experience drew a bustling business.

Now, just two years later, they’re closing down. Owner Robby Jordan tells AL.com via email, “We have made the tough decision to close because of the physical building and parking lot were not sizable enough to sustain or scale our business model.”

Before making that call, Hound & Harvest looked at relocating to Madison, Jones Valley, Hampton Cove, Five Points, South Huntsville, and Athens.

Jordan says, “They all either priced us out of the market rent-wise, as many mentioned they were looking for a national brand that would sign a 15-year lease, were not a conveniently accessible location for our ideal clientele, or would be a 12 to 24 month build process, which also is not ideal in our current economic environment.”

Hound & Harvest’s last day open will be July 13. They will close permanently at 4 p.m.

A June 8 social media statement announcing the closing included heartfelt thank you’s to their customers. That statement reads in part:

“Over the years, Hound & Harvest has been more than just a restaurant, it’s been a place where laughter was shared, memories were made, and love was served with every plate. But what made this place truly special… was you. To our loyal customers, neighbors, friends, and of course, your four-legged family members; thank you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for letting us be a part of your lives and for allowing us to serve this beautiful community, humans and hounds alike.”

Within hours there were nearly 100 replies on Facebook from Hound & Harvest customers. For example, Mary Gover commented, “I really hate to read this… Hound and Harvest is such a light in our community. You will be greatly missed.”

James Lovell added, “This is disappointing. This place is excellent and staffed by some wonderful people. We don’t have many local restaurants of this caliber.”

The Greater Huntsville Human Society’s Facebook account commented, “We are sorry to hear this news. Thank you for being a wonderful community partner to GHHS.”

Hound & Harvest was built into a 2358 Whitesburg Drive space that was formerly a doctor’s office. More recently it was the original home of Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro, before Mason Dixon relocated to 415 Church St. N.W.

Hound & Harvest’s founders included Garrett Hardee, of mobile vegan eatery Hippea Camper, and Kennan Tipton, of Northside Coffee, two business that operated out of downtown’s BeeZr Gastropub + Social Exchange, also home to Champagne Taco Kitchen and Chandlers Ford Brewing.

Our AL.com story on Hound & Harvest’s opening lauded “the food’s combination of fresh ingredients, clever preparation, accessible concepts, satisfying portions, and solid-for-stratospheric-2023-food-costs value.”

My favorite dishes there included the Bayou Fresh Tacos, generously stuffed with chili-garlic jumbo shrimp and pickled red cabbage and drizzled with creamy cilantro-forward sauce.

Or as we described it back then, “The flavors, electric and in-tune. This is the good stuff.” I’m also a fan of their Chilean Chicken Bowl, whose contents included “the sexiest carrots I’ve ever tasted.”

There were also intriguing vegan options. The Floret Tacos had gochujang glazed cauliflower, pickled carrot, a mix of toasted seeds and plant-based miso ginger dressing. A Harvest Bowl housed gochujang glazed soy, roasted broccoli, pickled carrot and red onion, edamame, white miso sauce and brown rice.

Hound & Harvest’s breakfast was one of the city’s best, in my opinion. Especially their Hot Tamale Supreme bowl, boasting plant-based chorizo and sour cream, black beans, house-made salsa, pickled red onions and avocado crème.

As we said in our 2023 coverage, “This is one soulful bowl. The kind of big breakfast you want to savor not scarf.”

Hound & Harvest is hosting a liquidation of assets through July 20 via appointment only. Interested parties can call 256-384-5135 to schedule.

So, what’s next for ownership? “The next business is unknown at the moment,” Jordan says, “but there will be a next.”