Petaluma Cattlemens announces closure after 54 years

An iconic local steakhouse will close its cowboy-flanked doors in just a few weeks, the restaurant chain announced Friday.

“After 54 incredible years, we at Cattlemens are preparing to close our Petaluma location at the end of this year,” company spokeswoman Miranda Smith said in a statement.

“Since 1970, we’ve been more than just a steakhouse – we’ve been part of the Petaluma family,” Smith said.

The three-acre property where Cattlemens sits, located between Highway 101 and Petaluma Boulevard North, was sold by the Ferolito family to a Los Angeles developer, who planned to demolish the 9,000-square-foot structure and build a Chick-fil-A. The plan was approved by the city hall in August 2023.

According to Friday’s release, Cattlemens’ last day of operations will be Dec. 31 due to “property sales and new business development plans.” Employees at the Petaluma steakhouse will be able to transfer to other Cattlemens restaurants, Smith said.

The Cattlemens chain, founded in 1968, added its Petaluma location in 1970. The chain currently has eight locations in Northern California, including Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa.

Don Frances is editor of the Petaluma Argus-Courier. Contact him at [email protected].