West End Taps Out to Focus on Other Restaurants

July 29, 2025—Nothing makes tough news go down easier like…an okonomiyaki dog.

That’s on offer 4-8pm tonight, tomorrow and Thursday—along with other inspired hot dogs like the “wasabi dog” and the “sushi dog,” the latter with bonito flakes and nori—as Izakaya West End (formerly West End Tap) conducts a final act before closing July 31.

The shuttering of the Westside locals’ favorite—which opened in 2013—will allow business partners Quinn Cormier and Geoff Hargrave to focus on 2025 debut Tortilla Shack in Santa Cruz and East End Gastropub in Capitola. 

“We needed a change,” Cormier says, “and Tortilla Shack has been really fun.”

She observes that the casual counter-service spot just off Highway 1 on Commercial Way seems to resonate with current trends.

“It’s a faster-paced place,” she says. “It’s not a dining experience, it’s a food experience. That’s the direction people are moving, and we have actual chefs working and creating—it’s not a fast food place.”

The handcrafted action includes new Friday features like slow-smoked brisket and locally caught seafood from Ocean2Table.

“It’s our ‘different’ day,” Cormier says. “It’s been really fun.”

Meanwhile, East End will benefit from an influx of staff coming over from West End, which pivoted to the Japanese fusion approach last summer.

At EEG, that translates to earlier opening times, new Tuesday restaurant service, and the return of a 4-5pm happy hour. 

And for the opportunistic—and/or those wanting to bid farewell to West End in person—there are $8 cocktail deals and $5 beer and wine before the month (and bar inventory) empty out on July 31.

“A lot of people will just shut,” Cormier says. “We wanted people to have a chance to come by and say ‘bye.’”

And perhaps grab, you know, a hot dog with scallions, spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds and bonito flakes for the road.

Cormier and the property’s landlord declined to share the name of the property’s new operators with Edible, citing the fact the transfer hasn’t been finalized.

But both did acknowledge that the potential incoming business owner is a well-known existing food-and-beverage pro. 

So there’s that too. 

And pork-belly watermelon salads plus SPAM musubi to go with the okonomiyaki hot dogs.

More at eastendpub.com and Tortilla Shack’s Instagram page.