JAMES BEARD AWARD-NOMINATED CHEF BETHANY ZOZULA | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

40 North at Alphabet City, the charming restaurant and bar inside City of Asylum on the North Side, has closed.

Bethany Zozula, a James Beard Award-nominated chef, announced the closure on social media, explaining that Sunday’s dinner service was the last.

“On behalf of myself and the other former employees, I want to thank everyone for their support over the last 3 years,” she said. “We loved feeding and serving you.”

The eatery debuted in 2021 in the former Brugge on North space, which closed in early 2020 due to the pandemic.

At that time Zozula was helming the Whitfield kitchen at East Liberty’s Ace Hotel, another business that was forced to shut down because of Covid. After a year of reflection, she started another chapter in her career.

She opened 40 North as a show of optimism in a weary world. City of Asylum, a bookstore and event space at 40 W. North Ave., provides sanctuary to endangered writers, so they can continue to document their experiences. Live music, film screenings and literary events are part of the mission.

Zozula told stories through the universal language of food. Even a fried chicken sandwich spoke volumes about her culinary skills.