Not literally, thank God. But the death of a business is a sad thing, too. And today I can tell you what we’ve known was coming for about a month now: the Chatham Street Cafe in downtown Cary is closed.
We like all of our customers (it’s true, really), but Chatham Street occupied a special place in our hearts. Because they were our first commercial customer. Gayla Bonke, owner and chef extraordinaire, took a chance on us before anyone else would. And for that we will always be grateful.
My thought in making this post was to pull out the soapbox. To give you the locavore, small business speech, the one where I remind you that you can make a difference with your purchasing decisions.
But as I type this page, I realize I’m emotionally drained on the subject, at least for now. I’m thinking about Gayla, hoping that she lands on her feet, and finds new pursuits that are satisfying in every way they need to be.
Good luck, Gayla. Don’t be a stranger.
Jim, it is sad news. Starting and running a small restaurant is brutal.