Gingerbread Cafe owner thanks customers as doors close

The stress of the Covid years, rising stock costs and increasing energy prices are the reasons Gingerbread Cafe owner, Niamh Henegan, cited for closing the doors on her cafe in Blackhall, Mullingar.

It is the second cafe in the area to close its doors in a matter of weeks, after The Grove Cafe, owned by Brendan Wallace, shut last month.

Thanking customers via social media, Niamh, who set up the business three years ago, said it had been the “hardest decision” she’s had to make in the last 20 years.

“Firstly thank you all, each and every one of you, for being the most beautiful people anyone could serve, thank you for the chats, the good humour, the honesty, the advice and your loyalty. I made friends here both inside and outside the counter. That in itself is a gift,” she said.

“My dream was to set up a place that felt like home without the wash-up. A place where if your diet was challenging, we would be your hero. But I also hoped that all of your friends wouldn’t feel compromised, they too would enjoy good food, good coffee, good service and also feel at home,” the Mayo native wrote.

“Covid years put a strain on me mentally and physically – all that stop start – reinvent, and repeat – challenged me a great deal but was also a huge financial drain,” she stated, adding that “the next punch in the gut” came in the form of increasing energy prices, “a massive growth” in the price of all produce, and the difficulty in finding people who wanted to work in the hospitality industry.

“I will miss all of you so much, I’ll miss your chats and laughter and great conversations, I’ll miss your kindness and friendship, but hopefully I’ll meet you for coffee in the many great places in Mullingar,” said Niamh, as she thanked the “great people” who worked alongside her, “big hearted and warm youngsters who always did their best”. She concluded by wishing everyone a “most beautiful Christmas... fill it with love laughter and hugs”.