A popular café in Limavady, Habit Food and Coffee Lounge, will close its doors permanently at the beginning of November. The last day of service is scheduled for Saturday, November 2.
In a heartfelt announcement made on social media over the weekend, the owners of the Catherine Street establishment, which has been a community staple for five years, attributed their closure to escalating costs, staffing challenges, and a decline in customer traffic.
“All good things must come to an end,” the post read. “After much consideration, we have decided to close our doors at Habit Food and Coffee Lounge. We embarked on this journey five years ago with the intention of providing quality food, service, and beverages to Limavady, not anticipating the challenges that lay ahead, including the pandemic. Nonetheless, we persevered.”
The owners expressed that, like many businesses in the hospitality sector, they have felt the financial strain in the past year. “Running a business requires immense effort and can be incredibly stressful. For us, the disadvantages of continuing operations have begun to outweigh the benefits at this time.”
They urged patrons to use any remaining vouchers before the closing date, noting that all vouchers will become void thereafter and cash exchanges for unused vouchers will not be possible.
In their message, the owners extended gratitude to their loyal customers and staff, stating, “We want to thank all of our customers over the years and a special thanks to all of our staff (past and present). You have all contributed to making Habit what it is, and we are forever grateful.”
The news of the café’s closure has been met with surprise and sadness from the community, with many customers taking to social media to express their sentiments. One customer wrote, “This is such sad news. I know this must have been a tough decision, but you can take pride in the quality of your food. It is outrageous how VAT levels in Northern Ireland’s hospitality sector are so disproportionate compared to other countries. Good luck in the coming weeks, and best wishes for the future.”
Another comment read, “Never an easy decision; I wish you all the best. Limavady has lost one of its finest cafés in terms of food and variety.”
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