Shock as Portlaoise restaurant closes down

ONE of the best and most popular restaurants in Portlaoise is sadly closing down.

Award-winning The Pantry Café has shut the brightly coloured front door for the last time, after almost 12 years in business.

The difficult decision was taken due to the sudden, serious illness of Mark Healy, a familiar and friendly face behind the counter who owned the restaurant with his wife Ladonna McCartan.

Gift vouchers for The Pantry Café will be honoured in full at its sister business, Nook and Cranny Gift Store at 44 Main Street, Portlaoise, which will continue to operate as usual.

In a heartbroken statement this evening, the couple said: ‘The Pantry Café, a much-loved fixture in the Portlaoise community, has now closed its doors after nearly 12 years of serving coffee, food and friendship.'

Located on Market Square and taken over by Mark and Ladonna in 2014, the café soon developed a strong reputation for wonderful home baking, delicious and top quality food and irresistible coffee. However, it was the warmth of the welcome and sense of community that kept customers coming back and the awards rolling in.

Ladonna explained: 'This decision was not taken lightly. Over the years and like many others, we have navigated the considerable challenges facing small businesses, and particularly those in the hospitality sector. 

'We have adapted and innovated with grit, determination and a genuine desire to keep our doors open and the buzz going, within our beloved neighbourhood eatery.'

Sadly, economic challenges and market conditions were further compounded by a turning point in this couple's personal circumstances' with Mark’s sudden, serious and ongoing health issues.

Ladonna said: “This was an unexpected and profound shock for us. As a full-time husband-and-wife team, our outlook for Mark is a gradual road to recovery which means that, for now, we’re steering our two businesses with only half our strength at the helm. 

'This is not the chapter we had envisioned, but we remain hopeful for brighter days ahead, even as this shift means an alteration in the way we started out.

'We are delighted to confirm that our gift store, Nook and Cranny, remains open and look forward to welcoming familiar faces and new friends alike' as we continue to be a small part of the joy and connection that makes our community so special.

'We would like to reassure our customers and suppliers that our café closure is being managed in a structured and entirely responsible way. In every decision we made, we have tried to ensure that the cafe is being wound down with care and consideration.'

The statement added: 'We are profoundly grateful for your support, which has made an enormous difference to us both – not to mention the friendship, encouragement and loyalty shown by our customers, suppliers, neighbours and media over the years.

'And we are especially grateful to our staff; an outstanding group of human beings whom we have enjoyed coming to work alongside and each of whom has made The Pantry Café such a special place since the day we first opened.

'We close our café doors with heartfelt thanks and fondest memories.'

Ladonna McCartan and Mark Healy, The Pantry Café