Cork's Lee Café announces closure after two years in business 

Popular café said running a small business was not always 'simple or sustainable'

The Lee Cafe

A Cork café has said it has made the difficult decision to close after two years in business.

The Lee Café located near the river at Thomas Davis Bridge, took to social media this week to announce the closure after "two wonderful years" in business. 

"This decision wasn't easy, but as many of you know, running a small business isn't always simple or sustainable," the company said. 

The café was opened in September 2023 and is run by business owner Ronan Power, who also runs the Lough Café, which opened at the start of 2020. 

"From day one, this little place has been more than just a café," the Lee Café added on social media.

The Lee Cafe

"It’s been a cozy corner filled with laughter, familiar faces, wagging tails, and the most beautiful views. We are so grateful for every single person who stopped by — whether it was once in a while, or almost every single day."

The business said it will remain open for another four to five weeks, with plans to permanently shut down at the end of October or the beginning of November.

"We’d love to see you in these last weeks and share a few more memories together before we say goodbye," the café concluded. 

The café's closure follows a warning from the Cork Business Association that many small businesses are bracing for "unsustainable" cost loads in the new year. 

The group warned that a likely hike in the national minimum wage, the possibility Vat will not be reduced for the hospitality sector, and the full commencement of pension auto-enrolment are feared by many small firms to be more than they can absorb.

Last week also saw another Cork hospitality business close, with the popular suburban bar and restaurant Route Fourteen in Togher, who announced that they would cease trading by the end of September.