Persimmon Bistro and Wine Bar, the cafe located at the Palm Springs Art Museum, has closed after chef and proprietor Arthur Vasquez and the museum failed to reach a new contract.

A post on the restaurant's Facebook page on Tuesday announced the closure with the caption "Thank you Palm Springs. We love you and leave you at the top of our game! Permanently closed February 6, 2023" and featured a collage of positive reviews by publications such as Palm Springs Life, U.S. News and more.

According to Scott Slaven, director of marketing, communications and graphic design, the museum is seeking proposals through Feb. 16 of potential operators, and doesn't expect to have a new museum eatery up and running until the fall.

"We are looking at temporary solutions for the next few months, including pop-ups and limited catering," Slaven said.

Vasquez told The Desert Sun on Tuesday that some interested parties have reached out to him who want to be involved with the restaurant's wine and beer programs and pizza on a smaller scale, but added he intends to completely vacate the space by this weekend.

"I plan to be spending the end of February and early March deciding what I'm going to do next," Vasquez said. "Do I want to be a chef in a hotel or corporate situation? No. Do I want to work late nights managing a kitchen? No."

Museum CFO and Deputy Director Jack Peirce told The Desert Sun in January that Persimmon's lease expires on Feb. 28, confirmed the contract is not renewing, and the museum was "discussing a modified contract" with Vasquez while accepting proposals from other interested parties.

On Wednesday, Peirce reiterated that Vasquez was invited to participate in the request for proposals and the museum will "seriously consider the proposal" if submitted.

"The museum and our facility rental clients utilize several additional local caterers to support our events, and there is a vibrant restaurant community in Palm Springs and the rest of the Coachella Valley. We feel that they should be given the opportunity to make a proposal," Peirce said in January.

Vasquez told The Desert Sun in January he signed his first annual concession agreement in September 2019. The museum was closed in 2020 due to COVID-19 and there was no agreement from October 2020 until February 2021. He signed a two-year agreement in 2021 after taking out a $192,000 Economic Injury Disaster loan from the Small Business Administration.

Vasquez, who is the second operator of the restaurant since it opened in 2008, said he was taken aback in December when Peirce approached him with a 60-day notice and alerted him that the museum was terminating the existing contract and was putting out a request for proposals to operate the restaurant space.

According to the 2021 contract between Vasquez and the museum, both parties agreed to Persimmon paying $1 a month in rent through 2023, which Slaven said has always been the nonprofit institution's policy and "The museum’s priority for the café has been as an amenity for our visitors, not as a money maker." The museum could also, according to the contract, terminate the agreement upon a 60-day written notice.

Slaven explained the museum informed Vasquez it would need to renegotiate the contract and he could put in a proposal, which Vasquez said he refused to do but was willing to work with modifications to the original agreement.

In a last-ditch effort, Vasquez sent a letter to the museum on Jan. 31 requesting a 12 to 18-month extension of his contract, saying he would leave by Feb. 15 if both sides couldn't come to an agreement. He said the request was rejected last week.

"I'm not 100% happy about it, but there is a level of relief that I don't have to deal with this fragmented administration anymore," Vasquez said. "(The museum) should just install a revolving door because it's going to be a revolving door for people who come in with good intentions and and then have to deal with the s--t I've had to deal with. The reason I dealt with it is because I had a massive SBA loan. If I didn't, I would have been gone too."

Persimmon Bistro and Wine Bar's menu featured a selection of wood-fired pizza, paninis, salads and soups, as well as wine, beer and cocktails.

Rancho Mirage photographer and former museum board member Michael Childers said he enjoyed the restaurant's affordability and interesting menu.

"It was exactly what I wanted. It was light, had salads, interesting appetizers and it wasn't boring," Childers said. "It was where I met people for a light lunch or coffee. I think anytime we can get people into that museum, it's a wonderful thing."

When the Palm Springs Art Museum shut down in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it included Persimmon Bistro and Wine Bar even though restaurants were considered "essential businesses." Both the museum and restaurant didn't reopen until the following year as restrictions began to ease.

Since reopening in 2021, the Palm Springs Art Museum has only been open four days a week. Vasquez said this was a challenge for him, and will be for anyone who puts in a proposal to take over the business.

During Vasquez's ownership, the restaurant was listed in U.S. News' Top 22 Restaurants in Palm Springs, was listed among five other restaurants in Forbes for "Amazing Comfort Food Finds in Palm Springs" in 2020 and featured in Palm Springs Life. The restaurant also recorded a video of "The Sopranos" actor Louis Lombardi making pizza with Vasquez.

When discussing whether or not he'd open another restaurant, Vasquez said "California is tough."

"When I opened this place, minimum wage was $11 an hour and it's now $15 an hour, and (California's retirement savings program) Calsavers just kicked in. I guess I'm jaded because I did everything I could. I ordered, received, did the payroll and garnishments, went out and bought things and I'm exhausted. I want to free my mind of how daunting that was for a while," Vasquez said.

Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye. Support local news, subscribe to The Desert Sun.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Persimmon Bistro at Palm Springs Art Museum closes