A vegan sandwich shop in Dublin has announced that it would close all of its branches after failing to find an investment partner to help with rising costs.
The Vegan Sandwich Co, which shuttered its Rathmines location in August, has announced that it would shut down its Stephens Green and Smithfield locations permanently.
They claim it’s because of the recent closure of the Rathmines site after only three months in operation, as well as increased rent in Stephen’s Green and growing prices for electricity and ingredients.
It’s the latest award-winning restaurant to close in Dublin this week; the firm just won the Irish category of the UberEats Restaurant of the Year competition.
It comes on the heels of the closing of Circa in Terenure, despite its Michelin Bib Gourmand award.
In a statement on Twitter, the owner of Vegan Sandwich Co said: “The last few months have truly been some of the most difficult since we started trading and I am so sorry to say that both Vegan Sandwich Co stores are now closed.”
”Between the opening and closing Rathmines, our rent doubling in Stephen’s Green, energy prices going through the roof, and weekly increases in our ingredients costs, it’s just not possible for us to keep going any longer.”
“I have been trying so hard to find the right investment partner to create the kind of business I know that Vegan Sandwich Co has the potential to be but unfortunately, the time has run out. Anyone who has visited any of our stores knows that we have the best staff of anywhere in this city, so to them, I need to say a huge thank you. It’s thanks to all of our staff, past and present, that we have managed to achieve everything we have to date.”
They continued: “To our current staff, I am so sorry, but I know you are all going to go on to great things and I will do my best to help you get there in any way that I can. If there is anyone out there looking for some incredible staff at all levels, let me know and I will put you in touch. To all our customers – you truly are the lifeblood of our business. I have never seen such a dedicated following, ready to support us from Honest2Goodness Market, a doorway during covid, in SuperValu or in one of our stores.”