I visited the café and took my photos home.
Sadly, the café has become a COVID causality and are closing their doors.
There was another section of 3 photos, and I think 2 were sold since I was last reimbursed. The owner said that she would get the payment to me, but I declined. She has enough troubles. I will consider the slight loss of revenue my rental cost.
I am not sad for the loss of my display. It was a privilege to show my photos and to even sell a few. It was just fun for me – a diversion, a hobby, something to do.
But the café was someone's dream and livelihood.
I saw online all of the items that were listed for a quick sale: from the actual coffee making machines to the cash register to fridges to chairs.
This made me very sad.
Thankfully, many items were sold. Unfortunately, it means that this business will not be re-opening in another location.
I am sure that there was difficulty in keeping up with the rent in these hard times, and from what I understand, the landlord is a heartless company. I am not sure how an empty space is a solution for them, and I will leave it at that.
I am so appreciative of the opportunity to display my work here and so sorry for the owner's loss. It must be so hard to see your dream dashed to shreds like this.
That is indeed sad news about the cafe closing. I always applaud those willing to take on such a venture of their own business. I thought some of the provincial & federal plans helped small businesses with rent & such. It certainly doesn't help the recovery of the province as we see more & more empty stores.
ReplyDeleteThat was very kind of you to wave your fees.
Sad indeed and we have a very similar instance with a nearby breakfast and lunch place that was a local favorite. It was set to reopen after being shut down several months and then we heard the owner caught the virus. There’s now a temporary closed sign up, but we spoke to someone who said it wasn’t expected to reopen. It was very nice that you donated the proceeds from your sales to the owner. It sounds like times were tough enough.
ReplyDeleteSo many businesses are casualties of the pandemic here as well. So sad!
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sad too whenever I see a cafe closing. So many people have lost their livelihoods because of the pandemic.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing to read that the cafe will not be relocating. What a loss for your community.
ReplyDeleteBarn whisperer just arriving with a backhoe. Despite the rain they will be working on the barn today. Such good news.
What a shame. Sad for you as I know you enjoyed having your photographs on display, whether they sold or not. And so much sadder for the cafe owner to have to pack everything up and cease business. Just when things are starting to open up a bit too. Damn Covid.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to see a little business go under. Hard times. But your wall of pictures is so lovely.
ReplyDeleteThat is a kind thing to do. Small business, and those employed hourly, have taken the brunt of this pandemic. Billionaires are making money hand over fist.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a lot of sadness as by-products of this darn pandemic. I feel for your store owners but can relate a true story from the other side. My daughter and her husband own a sweet house that they spent months perfecting before they rented it. The woman who rented the house really took advantage of the gov't pandemic law that barred rental agents from getting rid of a renter who couldn't pay the rent. She owed 10 months rent before mysteriously disappearing and leaving the whole property in a mess. It took my kids over a month to get it all back to where they could rent it again !!
ReplyDeleteThat is happening far too often. So sorry about your photo wall though. Maybe you could put up an on-line viewing ... I have seen several and I suspect they work.
ReplyDeleteAgree with everyone's comments, sad times for small business owners. I have a small restaurant nearby, where I must have taken carry-out weekly to help support them, but suddenly they were closed. Hope you can display your work somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteVery hard times for small business owners. I too hope you can display your photos elsewhere. Mayb a book store> My sympathy for landlords is tiny.
ReplyDeleteA vegan/vegetarian restaurant in Austin closed last year after 40 years in business. It was the first restaurant I visited after deciding to switch to plant-based eating. Fortunately, the little vegan/vegetarian bakery and cafe in my small town between Houston and Austin has managed to stay in business, revamping with their takeout meal-of-the-week along with their regular offerings. They've recently cut back their hours as a result of losing one of their bakers, and I'm afraid one day, I'll find that they've closed, too. They had just gotten their tough first two years behind them in barbecue-and-burger land, building a loyal clientele, when the pandemic hit.
ReplyDeleteHow sad. It was nice of you to forego the payment.
ReplyDeleteThat is sad.
ReplyDeleteSadly many more businesses will bit e the dust because of covid
ReplyDeleteThat's very sad! I'm so sorry for all the small businesses that are closing or struggling. I haven't been a supportive customer because I've mostly stayed home.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for your magnanimous gesture. I am sure that it provided a little comfort to the owner faced with despair. It will be great if you can find another location to display your photographs. As you rightly point out it's not for the money, but I am sure there is some satisfaction in having your work on display.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for the loss of another cafe. We bought frozen meals from my favourite coffee shop here all winter long as my little contribution to keeping them open.
ReplyDeleteWe’ve been so sad to see wonderful restaurants going out of business here too as a COVID casualty. I’m sorry you lost a fun place to display your beautiful photos and it was very kind of you to let them keep what you were to receive.
ReplyDeleteYes, the proprietors are the worst hurt.
ReplyDeleteVery sad news indeed. There are so many small businesses who will not return. :(
ReplyDeleteNice of you to donate your proceeds to the owner. Crushing for them.
I am also sad to hear of yet another cafe gone under due to Covid. At least my little coffee shop has weathered the worst of it all.
ReplyDeleteYes, dreams die hard.
ReplyDeleteSad state of affairs for small business. The cafes in Pembroke all seem to be thriving though.
ReplyDelete