AI still recommends businesses that have permanently closed
A monthly, sourced measure of how often AI assistants send travelers to places that no longer exist.
Last updated October 12, 2026
As of October 2026, TakeScout found at least 80 permanently closed businesses still recommended by two or more AI assistants, at least 0.4% of the 20,867 businesses they put in their top three across 119 destinations. At least 1 in 23 AI answers included a closed business in its top three. Restaurants were the most over-represented.
How often do AI assistants recommend closed businesses?
At least 80 of 20,867 businesses that Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar put in their top three (at least 0.4%) are confirmed permanently closed and were recommended by two or more of them for the same question. Counting closed businesses any single model recommended, the share is at least 1.3% (277 businesses). Of 28,560 successful AI answers, 1,266 — at least 1 in 23 — had a permanently closed business in its top three.
Which kinds of businesses are affected?
Restaurants are the most over-represented: they make up 73% of confirmed closures but 30% of top-three recommendations (2.4× their expected share).
1.0× means a category's share of closures matches its share of recommendations. Categories with fewer than 10 closures aren't shown.
How long after closing are businesses still recommended?
42% had been closed for three years or more when an AI assistant recommended them; 22% had closed within the past year.
Some of the longest-closed businesses still recommended:
- Trinity (Newfoundland and Labrador) — closed 2004
- The Corn Exchange (South Dakota) — closed Apr 13, 2013
- Founders' Hall (Charlottetown) — closed May 2016
- Prairie Harvest Cafe (Saskatoon) — closed Aug 2017
- Chesapeake Bay (Virginia) — closed Oct 1, 2017
Based on 251 of 277 closures with a dated source. Year-only dates count from December 31 and month-only dates from the month's last day, so these ages are understated.
Do different AI models repeat the same closed businesses?
Of 277 confirmed-closed businesses, 106 (38%) were recommended by two or more AI models. The rest came from a single model's answers.
Which AI models recommend closed businesses most often?
Claude Sonnet 5 recommended closed businesses most often in this sample: 2.6% of its top-three picks, against 0.5% for Perplexity Sonar.
| Model | Closed share of top-3 picks | Answers with a closed business |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Sonnet 5 | 2.6% (522 of 20,314) | 6.5% (463 of 7,140) |
| GPT-4o | 2.3% (476 of 20,459) | 6.2% (441 of 7,140) |
| Gemini 3.6 Flash | 1.4% (275 of 19,001) | 3.6% (256 of 7,140) |
| Perplexity Sonar | 0.5% (107 of 20,338) | 1.5% (106 of 7,140) |
How does TakeScout verify each closure?
A business is only counted when a citable source reports it permanently closed and an independent second check confirms it: a separate search for current signs it is operating, plus a match against its Google Maps listing. The cited page is then read: it must name the business and say, in a sentence, that it has closed. When that page is more than three years old or cannot be read, a permanent closure is still counted if its Google Maps listing says permanently closed; otherwise it goes to a human reviewer, as conflicting evidence does, and is never published unreviewed. Namesakes in other countries, directory-only claims, moves and seasonal closures are excluded. Full method and limitations.
The businesses
80 confirmed-closed businesses that two or more of Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar placed in their top three for the same traveler question, grouped by destination.
Alaska (1)
- Marx Bros Cafe — Restaurant in Alaska Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 3 other questions).
Confirmed closed per adn.com · Closed Aug 31, 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Arkansas (1)
- South on Main — Restaurant in Arkansas Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per arktimes.com · Closed Dec 2022 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Austin (1)
- Olamaie — Restaurant in Austin Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Restaurants for Couples”.
Confirmed closed per olamaieaustin.com · Closed Jul 19, 2026 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Cape Breton (1)
- The Bite House — Restaurant in Cape Breton Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Restaurants for Couples” (and 3 other questions).
Confirmed closed per eatnorth.com · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Charleston (3)
- Charleston Grill — Restaurant in Charleston Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per whatnow.com · Closed Aug 23, 2025 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - Hominy Grill — Restaurant in Charleston Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per abcnews4.com · Closed Apr 28, 2019 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - North Charleston Fire Museum — Attraction in Charleston Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Rainy-Day Attractions” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per northcharlestonfiremuseum.org · Closed Feb 14, 2026 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Charlottetown (1)
- Founders' Hall — Attraction in Charlottetown Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Rainy-Day Attractions” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per toronto.citynews.ca · Closed May 2016 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Dawson Creek (1)
- Alaska Highway House Museum — Attraction in Dawson Creek Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Historical Attractions” (and 3 other questions).
Confirmed closed per dawsoncreek.ca · Closed 2021 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Delaware (1)
- House of William & Merry — Restaurant in Delaware Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per delawarebusinesstimes.com · Closed Jul 26, 2026 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Denver (1)
- Beatrice & Woodsley — Restaurant in Denver Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Restaurants for Couples”.
Confirmed closed per denverpost.com · Closed 2020 · Verified Sep 30, 2026 Report an error
Edmonton (1)
- Biera — Restaurant in Edmonton Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants” (and 2 other questions).
Confirmed closed per blindenthusiasm.ca · Closed Dec 29, 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Halifax (1)
- John's Lunch — Restaurant in Halifax Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash and GPT-4o for “Best Budget-Friendly Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per thecoast.ca · Closed Oct 30, 2023 · Verified Sep 30, 2026 Report an error
Idaho (1)
- Roosevelt Inn — Hotel in Idaho Permanently closed
Recommended by GPT-4o and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Boutique Hotels” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per cdapress.com · Closed May 2025 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Iowa (1)
- Django — Restaurant in Iowa Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per djangodesmoines.com · Closed Mar 14, 2026 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Kansas City (3)
- Bluestem — Restaurant in Kansas City Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Restaurants for Couples”.
Confirmed closed per kshb.com · Closed Dec 19, 2020 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error - Story — Restaurant in Kansas City Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per kansascity.com · Closed Jan 2026 · Verified Sep 30, 2026 Report an error - The American Restaurant — Restaurant in Kansas City Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Restaurants for Couples”.
Confirmed closed per kcur.org · Closed 2017 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Las Vegas (3)
- eat. — Restaurant in Las Vegas Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per vegas.eater.com · Closed Mar 22, 2025 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error - Le Cirque — Restaurant in Las Vegas Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Restaurants for Couples”.
Confirmed closed per ktnv.com · Closed Aug 23, 2026 · Verified Sep 30, 2026 Report an error - Picasso — Restaurant in Las Vegas Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per winespectator.com · Closed Aug 16, 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Laval (1)
- Illumi — Attraction in Laval Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash and GPT-4o for “Best Winter Experiences”.
Confirmed closed per cbc.ca · Closed Jan 7, 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Lethbridge (1)
- Mocha Cabana — Restaurant in Lethbridge Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Food Experiences” (and 4 other questions).
Confirmed closed per globalnews.ca · Closed Oct 2022 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Manitoba (1)
- Segovia Tapas Bar and Restaurant — Restaurant in Manitoba Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per cbc.ca · Closed May 2020 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Massachusetts (3)
- Menton — Restaurant in Massachusetts Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 2 other questions).
Confirmed closed per restaurantbusinessonline.com · Closed Jan 5, 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - No. 9 Park — Restaurant in Massachusetts Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Restaurants for Couples” (and 2 other questions).
Confirmed closed per boston.com · Closed Dec 31, 2024 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error - The Wheatleigh — Hotel in Massachusetts Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Romantic Hotels”.
Confirmed closed per berkshireeagle.com · Closed 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Medicine Hat (1)
- Skinny's Smokehouse — Restaurant in Medicine Hat Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash and GPT-4o for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per chatnewstoday.ca · Closed May 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Miami (1)
- The Forge — Restaurant in Miami Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per miaminewtimes.com · Closed 2019 · Verified Oct 5, 2026 Report an error
Milwaukee (1)
- Ardent — Restaurant in Milwaukee Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per urbanmilwaukee.com · Closed Dec 31, 2024 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Minneapolis (2)
- The Bachelor Farmer — Restaurant in Minneapolis Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per cbsnews.com · Closed Apr 30, 2020 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - Young Joni — Restaurant in Minneapolis Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per youngjoni.com · Closed Sep 12, 2025 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Mississippi (1)
- The Crystal Grill — Restaurant in Mississippi Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per supertalk.fm · Closed Jul 9, 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Missouri (1)
- Super 8 by Wyndham — Hotel in Missouri Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Budget Hotels”.
Confirmed closed per mapquest.com · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Montana (1)
- Cafe Kandahar — Restaurant in Montana Permanently closed
Recommended by GPT-4o and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per yelp.com · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Montreal (2)
- Le Mousso — Restaurant in Montreal Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per themain.com · Closed Aug 22, 2026 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - Observatoire Place Ville Marie — Attraction in Montreal Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Viewpoints”.
Confirmed closed per journalmetro.com · Closed May 2020 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Nanaimo (1)
- The Nest Bistro — Restaurant in Nanaimo Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Restaurants for Couples” (and 3 other questions).
Confirmed closed per thenestbistro.com · Closed Jun 7, 2025 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Nashville (1)
- Audrey — Restaurant in Nashville Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per nashvillescene.com · Closed Aug 16, 2026 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
New Hampshire (1)
- Adair Country Inn — Hotel in New Hampshire Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Gemini 3.6 Flash for “Best Romantic Hotels”.
Confirmed closed per adairinn.com · Closed Nov 3, 2025 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Newfoundland and Labrador (1)
Newfoundland and Labrador on TakeScout
- Trinity — Attraction in Newfoundland and Labrador Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Local Experiences”.
Confirmed closed per cbc.ca · Closed 2004 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
North Dakota (1)
- Norsk Høstfest — Event in North Dakota Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Gemini 3.6 Flash for “Best Food Experiences”.
Confirmed closed per news.prairiepublic.org · Closed 2025 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Ohio (1)
- Melt Bar and Grilled — Restaurant in Ohio Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Budget-Friendly Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per cleveland.com · Closed Dec 29, 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Oklahoma (1)
- Ann's Chicken Fry House — Restaurant in Oklahoma Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per news9.com · Closed Jan 2021 · Verified Sep 30, 2026 Report an error
Orlando (1)
- Gringos Locos — Restaurant in Orlando Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash and GPT-4o for “Best Budget-Friendly Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per clickorlando.com · Closed Aug 1, 2026 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Ottawa (2)
- Fairouz Café — Restaurant in Ottawa Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per obj.ca · Closed Apr 2025 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - Play Food & Wine — Restaurant in Ottawa Permanently closed
Recommended by GPT-4o and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per playfood.ca · Closed Jan 10, 2026 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Pennsylvania (1)
- Laurel — Restaurant in Pennsylvania Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Winter Experiences”.
Confirmed closed per inquirer.com · Closed Nov 21, 2025 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Phoenix (2)
- Barrio Café — Restaurant in Phoenix Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Food Experiences” (and 2 other questions).
Confirmed closed per phoenixnewtimes.com · Closed May 31, 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - Binkley’s Restaurant — Restaurant in Phoenix Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 2 other questions).
Confirmed closed per phoenixnewtimes.com · Closed Aug 2024 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Portland (3)
- Castagna — Restaurant in Portland Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 2 other questions).
Confirmed closed per pdxmonthly.com · Closed 2023 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error - Pok Pok — Restaurant in Portland Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Budget-Friendly Restaurants” (and 3 other questions).
Confirmed closed per oregonlive.com · Closed Oct 2020 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error - Portland Children's Museum — Attraction in Portland Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Attractions for Families” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per opb.org · Closed Jun 30, 2021 · Verified Sep 30, 2026 Report an error
Prince Albert (1)
- Amy’s on Second — Restaurant in Prince Albert Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Food Experiences” (and 5 other questions).
Confirmed closed per panow.com · Closed Nov 2020 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Prince George (1)
- Cimo Mediterranean Grill — Restaurant in Prince George Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 3 other questions).
Confirmed closed per princegeorgecitizen.com · Closed Jan 31, 2023 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Québec City (2)
- Marché du Vieux-Port — Business in Québec City Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Local Experiences”.
Confirmed closed per ccvq.quebec · Closed Jun 12, 2019 · Verified Oct 7, 2026 Report an error - Restaurant Initiale — Restaurant in Québec City Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash and GPT-4o for “Best Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per restaurantinitiale.com · Closed Sep 28, 2019 · Verified Oct 7, 2026 Report an error
Red Deer (1)
- Westlake Grill — Restaurant in Red Deer Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 4 other questions).
Confirmed closed per rdnewsnow.com · Closed May 26, 2025 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Rhode Island (1)
- Save the Bay Exploration Center & Aquarium — Attraction in Rhode Island Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Gemini 3.6 Flash for “Best Attractions for Families”.
Confirmed closed per savebay.org · Closed Oct 10, 2023 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Saint John (2)
- Billy's Seafood Company — Restaurant in Saint John Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per cbc.ca · Closed Feb 4, 2025 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - Slocum & Ferris — Restaurant in Saint John Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Gemini 3.6 Flash for “Best Food Experiences” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per cbc.ca · Closed Mar 9, 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Saskatoon (3)
- Ayden Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Saskatoon Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 4 other questions).
Confirmed closed per cbc.ca · Closed Jul 8, 2023 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error - Prairie Harvest Cafe — Restaurant in Saskatoon Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Gemini 3.6 Flash for “Best Budget-Friendly Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per globalnews.ca · Closed Aug 2017 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - The Hollows — Restaurant in Saskatoon Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 5 other questions).
Confirmed closed per cbc.ca · Closed Apr 2020 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Sherbrooke (1)
- Restaurant Auguste — Restaurant in Sherbrooke Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Restaurants for Couples” (and 4 other questions).
Confirmed closed per auguste-restaurant.com · Closed Dec 20, 2025 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
South Dakota (1)
- The Corn Exchange — Restaurant in South Dakota Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per kathmandubistro.com · Closed Apr 13, 2013 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
St. John's (1)
- Raymonds — Restaurant in St. John's Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 4 other questions).
Confirmed closed per birideye.com · Closed Dec 31, 2020 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
St. Louis (2)
- Sardella — Restaurant in St. Louis Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and GPT-4o for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per expatstl.com · Closed Mar 16, 2020 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error - Tony's — Restaurant in St. Louis Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per spectrumlocalnews.com · Closed Feb 15, 2025 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
Toronto (1)
- HI Toronto Hostel — Hotel in Toronto Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Budget Hotels”.
Confirmed closed per wanderlog.com · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
United States (1)
- Dog Sledding — Experience in United States Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Winter Experiences”.
Confirmed closed per aspenpublicradio.org · Closed Jun 2024 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Utah (1)
- The Leonardo Museum — Attraction in Utah Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Rainy-Day Attractions”.
Confirmed closed per ksl.com · Closed Sep 25, 2025 · Verified Sep 30, 2026 Report an error
Vancouver (3)
- Forage — Restaurant in Vancouver Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and GPT-4o for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per vancouverisawesome.com · Closed Nov 17, 2024 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error - Skwachàys Lodge — Hotel in Vancouver Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Boutique Hotels”.
Confirmed closed per theglobeandmail.com · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - The Salmon House on the Hill — Restaurant in Vancouver Permanently closed
Recommended by Gemini 3.6 Flash and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Local or Traditional Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per nsnews.com · Closed Jul 12, 2025 · Verified Oct 5, 2026 Report an error
Vermont (2)
- Michael’s on the Hill — Restaurant in Vermont Permanently closed
Recommended by GPT-4o and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per sevendaysvt.com · Closed Apr 5, 2026 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error - The Prince & The Pauper — Restaurant in Vermont Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Gemini 3.6 Flash for “Best Restaurants for Couples”.
Confirmed closed per princeandpauper.com · Closed Mar 14, 2026 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
Virginia (2)
- Chesapeake Bay — Attraction in Virginia Permanently closed
Recommended by Claude Sonnet 5 and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Food Experiences”.
Confirmed closed per wvtf.org · Closed Oct 1, 2017 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error - The Restaurant at Patowmack Farm — Restaurant in Virginia Permanently closed
Recommended by GPT-4o and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants”.
Confirmed closed per patowmackfarm.com · Closed Aug 31, 2025 · Verified Sep 29, 2026 Report an error
West Virginia (1)
- The French Goat — Restaurant in West Virginia Permanently closed
Recommended by GPT-4o and Perplexity Sonar for “Best Fine-Dining Restaurants” (and 1 other question).
Confirmed closed per wvva.com · Closed Jan 8, 2026 · Verified Oct 12, 2026 Report an error
No business matches that filter.
Methodology and limitations
- What was asked. TakeScout repeatedly asks Claude Sonnet 5, Gemini 3.6 Flash, GPT-4o, and Perplexity Sonar the questions travelers ask about each destination and extracts the places each answer recommends. Only the top three places in each answer count here.
- Window. For each destination, its latest check in which at least 90% of expected answers came back; otherwise its previous such check. This update covers answers from August 12, 2026 to October 12, 2026 across 119 destinations (12 from an earlier check because their latest was incomplete). Only successful answers count.
- Coverage. 79% of recommended businesses have had a closure check. Unchecked businesses count as open.
- Every rate is a minimum. A closure is counted only once it is verified. Reported closures whose source we could not read, or whose only source is more than three years old, are held back unless Google's listing confirms them — and some of those are real. So each figure here reads “at least”.
- One business, counted once. The same place recommended for a city, its state or province and its country is merged (matched by its Google Maps listing, or by name within the same place) and listed under the most specific destination.
- Why two or more models. The list and headline rate only include businesses at least two models put in their top three for the same question, so one model's stray answer can't put a business on the list. A recommendation made before a business's closure date doesn't count.
- Dates. Year-only closure dates count from December 31 and month-only dates from the month's last day.
- Minimum samples. A model is ranked only with at least 200 top-three recommendations in the window, and a category only with at least 10 closures.
- Not measured. Temporary and seasonal closures, and businesses that moved or were renamed, are not counted as closed.
Full TakeScout methodology · State of AI Travel · How AI visibility is measured
How to cite this report
TakeScout, “AI Still Recommends Businesses That Have Permanently Closed,” October 2026, https://takescout.com/reports/ai-recommends-closed-businesses. The findings and list are published under CC BY 4.0: you may reuse them, including commercially, with credit and a link to this page.
Frequently asked questions
Why do AI assistants recommend businesses that have closed?
Assistants learn from data with a cutoff date, and even when they search the web they rarely re-check whether a specific restaurant or hotel is still operating. A place that was a safe recommendation a few years ago can stay in their top answers long after it has closed. In this sample, Perplexity Sonar had the lowest share of closed businesses in its top-three picks.
How common is it?
As of October 2026, at least 0.4% of the businesses AI models put in their top three were confirmed permanently closed and recommended by two or more models, and at least 1 in 23 AI answers included a closed business in its top three.
Which AI model recommends closed businesses most often?
In this sample, Claude Sonnet 5 did: 2.6% of its top-three picks were confirmed closed, compared with 0.5% for Perplexity Sonar.
How can a business or tourism board check what AI says about them?
TakeScout's destination pages show what AI assistants recommend for each tracked destination, including closed places they still send travelers to. The guide "How AI visibility is measured" explains the method.
How often is this report updated?
Monthly, on the first of each month. This version was updated October 12, 2026.