Popular Dublin restaurant blames ongoing street works for closure as sales plummet
Staff were informed that the works would only take four weeks but instead took over three months
Iconic Temple Bar restaurant Luigi Malones has sadly announced their closure after 28 years in business, citing ongoing street works as "the straw that broke the camel’s back."
Set to close on Sunday, April 13, the business took to their social media accounts to break the news. A spokesperson for Luigi Malones said, "There is also a sense of deep frustration as we have been effectively barricaded into our own premises for the last three months as the street is being dug up and rebuilt all around us and as a result our turnover has plummeted in that period, and this was the straw that broke the camel’s back, leading to the consequential financial loss which makes it impossible to trade on without inflicting damage on all stakeholders. This is something we are determined to avoid."
While the business are "very appreciative" of the support and loyalty of the management and staff through this difficult and frustrating time, despite their best efforts they were all "fighting an up-hill battle" since the restaurant was "so inaccessible."
While the staff were acutely aware that the streets did have to be repaired, they were informed it would only take four weeks but instead took over three months.
The spokesperson continued, "We have of course been affected also by the gradual but general decline in trade in Dublin City Centre for various reasons known to the industry at large, compounded by the inflationary pressures that have made it impossible for our operation to trade at a profit."
Luigi Malones will accept any gift vouchers in the interim trading period whilst they are still trading and will also honour them at their Cork restaurant.
"Finally, we wish to thank our many customers over the years who frequented our restaurant," the spokesperson concluded.