People have been left heartbroken after a Leeds city centre café announced it would be closing for an indeterminate amount of time because of cost struggles.
Mrs Atha's is shutting its doors from Tuesday, June 20, owner Warren Jones said in a statement on Instagram. "We need a break," he said, but specified the closure would be used to find a way to continue Mrs Atha's.
"I don't think it's any secret that the hospitality industry is suffering right now," he said. "I'm sure many of our regulars have chatted with me over the last few months and heard me say how we are struggling with how much it's costing is to run the shop.
"I'm also sure you have all noticed the building works currently going on on our street. It's having an almost ruinous effect on us.
"Our weekday trade has been absolutely decimated. The work has also meant the loss of our extra outside seating area across the way."
Warren added: "We are on the brink. If this shop didn't mean so much to me personally and I wasn't so emotionally invested in every single aspect of it then I believe I would have already called it a day.
"But I'm not doing that. I'm fighting with everything I have to stay here and keep things moving. Everyone knows how much this place means to me."
Mrs Atha's is named after Warren's grandma. He praised the team at the café in his statement.
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"It's a sad say. But it's not the end.
" t's just the beginning of the next phase. We promise you that we will do everything in our power to come back stronger and better than ever but for now all we can do is say thank you to every single one of you for your ongoing support," Warren finished.
The post received more than 300 comments in less than a day, full of Leeds regulars and visitor heartbroken at the news. Fellow Leeds café Laynes said: "It's so tough right now, anything extra on top is over the tipping point. You'll be back."
Paul Waite said he was "absolutely gutted". Kulture Coffee said: "Can't wait to hear of the day that you decide to announce your return!"
