Buzzy Delray Beach restaurant closes, making way for exciting Asian-themed eatery

In downtown Delray Beach, buzzy Atlantic Avenue lunch, dinner, and brunch staple, Salt 7, celebrated its final week of business Sunday, June 30, softening news of the restaurant's sudden closure with an exciting announcement.

In December 2023, Salt 7's owners confirmed that it would be handing business operations over to Ohio-based One Hospitality, who took over the space at 32 SE Second Avenue in January.

This week, Kapow! Noodle Bar founder Vaughan Dugan confirmed the space will soon be home to the third Palm Beach County location of his Asian-themed restaurant. The local restaurateur opened his second location in 2017 in West Palm Beach, and in 2022 launched a revamped version of the original Boca Raton restaurant .

Dugan tells the Palm Beach Post that he's been looking at Delray Beach — specifically the shuttered Bru's Room Bar & Grill space — to expand the brand.

"That deal didn't work out…but this deal transpired almost overnight," says Dugan.

Salt 7's Delray Beach restaurant transforms to Kapow! Noodle Bar

In May, local entrepreneur Jamie Day, managing partner of Delray Beach-based Fresh Blends, reached out to Dugan and his partner in Kapow, Rodney Mayo , who operates Delray Beach establishments DaDa and Honey.

The idea: leverage their expertise and join forces.

"This partnership just makes sense. We have the team, the bones, and infrastructure, and the audience…and they're able to build equity in the local area. Moving forward, we are hoping to make this more of a permanent partnership."

Dugan says he hopes to open the Delray Beach restaurant as early as November, following renovations. Looking forward, the team is currently negotiating a lease for a fourth Kapow restaurant in Naples, with plans to launch the brand's first out-of-state restaurant in Ohio sometime next year.

Kapow! Noodle Bar's new Delray restaurant will be located at the former Salt 7 location: 32 SE 2nd Ave., in downtown Delray Beach.

Nicole Danna is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post , part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at nicoleadanna@gmail.com . Help support our journalism. Subscribe today .

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Buzzy Delray Beach restaurant closes, making way for exciting Asian-themed eatery