QUINCY − Known for its heaping plates of consolation meals and signature mac and cheese, the Fat Cat Restaurant will shut on Wednesday, Jan. 10, after 16 years in downtown Quincy.
“We have tried our greatest to handle the waters nevertheless it’s change into an excessive amount of,” the restaurant’s Facebook account posted on Monday. “Even with the kindness and generosity of FoxRock Properties, the ever rising cost of products and doing business has change into a burden that’s insufferable.”
FoxRock Properties is the owner at 1495 Hancock St., the place the Fat Cat moved in 2019 from its authentic location at 24 Chestnut St, a brief walk away. The Chestnut Street building, owned by Quincy Mutual Fire, was slated for a challenge together with 220 flats and 15,000 sq. toes of economic area known as “East of Chestnut.”
In the farewell put up, Fat Cat mentioned its plan was to return to Chestnut Street. “Unfortunately for all of us, COVID hit and that challenge was stalled,” the put up reads.
“FoxRock labored carefully with the Fat Cat workforce to beat challenges that arose throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in order that they might proceed to function in Quincy Center throughout these difficult instances,” FoxRock mentioned in a press release. “We valued our expertise with the Fat Cat workforce, look ahead to sustaining a relationship as a part of the continued enhancements to Quincy Center, and are excited to see what’s subsequent for them.”
The Hancock Street location was 3 times as massive as 24 Chestnut Street, which was an enthralling hole-in-the-wall the place lengthy strains would kind on most nights and weekends. The new web site’s eating room alone was twice the scale of the unique area, and its kitchen was 18 instances larger.
“The Fat Cat is getting fatter,” proprietor Neil Kiley mentioned on the time of the relocation.
‘It was devastating.’ Chamber president says COVID recession nonetheless weighs on eating places
“I really feel terrible for Neil and his workforce and the staff which are going to lose their jobs,” mentioned president of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce Tim Cahill. “I understand how robust it’s.”
Cahill mentioned that the majority eating places are nonetheless feeling the influence of the pandemic-induced recession of 2020. “It was devastating,” he mentioned. “The truth that there have been only a few closures popping out of COVID was a miracle.”
Despite the restoration, Cahill mentioned quite a lot of financial elements nonetheless weigh closely on the hospitality and restaurant sectors. “The cost of a meal out is much more costly than it was a 12 months in the past, two years in the past,” he mentioned, citing will increase within the cost of meals, transportation, alcohol and wages.
Other challenges are cyclical. The stretch from January via March will be notably exhausting on struggling eating places, Cahill mentioned.
People resolve to eat and drink much less after overindulging between Thanksgiving and New Years, he added. People even have much less money to spend, and the cruel climate will be discouraging.
“If you do not come out of the vacations killing it, then you are going to actually, actually harm,” Cahill mentioned.
Cahill mentioned the brand new location at 1495 Hancock St. could have merely been to massive and costly. “You’re higher off turning away individuals as a result of you do not have room than having an excessive amount of room,” he mentioned. “You’re paying for that one year a 12 months. Whether you are open or closed you are paying for that rental cost.”
What’s occurring with the Townshend in Quincy Center?
Another restaurant in Quincy Center, The Townshend at 1250 Hancock St., is briefly closed. Cahill mentioned the restaurant, owned by Devin Adams, goes to revamp and reopen in a few months. Adams can be owns Pearl and Lime at 1440 Hancock St.
According to Cahill, rising costs are a part of the rationale for the momentary closure. He mentioned the restaurant goes to alter up its idea and attempt to be extra inexpensive.
Though Cahill mentioned the financial local weather has been difficult, particularly within the restaurant sector, he does not anticipate a “contagion” situation wherein quite a lot of eating places will shut.
“That would make me extra nervous, if (the Townshend) was closing completely on one finish of the sq., and Neil was closing down on the different finish of the sq.,” he mentioned. “I do not assume it speaks to a bunch of closures in Quincy although.”
Kiley, additionally owned restaurant known as Passport within the area in Weymouth Landing for a time period, didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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