Bewleys café closures 'like part of city dying'
The demise of Bewley’s oriental cafés in central Dublin is “like part of Dublin dying”, their emotional owner said today.
The two remaining outlets on Grafton Street and Westmoreland Street will stop trading before Christmas with 234 job losses.
Patrick Campbell of owners, Campbell Bewley Group described breaking the bad news to the staff last night as “very emotional”.
He said of the closure: “It’s like a death in the family. It’s part of Dublin dying. It’s a very sad morning for me and my family. We’re devastated.”
More than €12m was invested in the two premises in the late 1990s but theyhad since run up losses of €4m.
Bewley’s, which got its "oriental" link from its tea importation business, opened its first café on Georges Street in 1894.
The cafés – famous for their marble tables and stained glass windows – were steeped in tradition and adored by city dwellers and tourists.
The cafés were frequented by writers James Joyce and Brendan Behan who dined on the famous coffee and sticky buns.
The Bewley Campbell Group, which has owned the cafés since 1986, said the whole coffee business has changed in Dublin.
Mr Campbell said: “The streets of Dublin are becoming homogenous We’re becoming a sterile (business) environment. It’s a moment we were hoping wouldn’t happen. The tide was eventually running against us.”
He told RTE Radio: “The rents in Grafton Street are the fifth highest in the world. We’re not getting support from anywhere.”
Although the Luas has increased pedestrian volume on Grafton Street by 20%, Mr Campbell said the layout of his cafés meant he couldn’t capitalise on the extra business.
