A downtown Belfast staple will be closing in the fall after 13 years, the restaurant owner announced Wednesday afternoon.
Courtney Miller, owner of the Daily Soup at 118 High St., wrote in a Facebook post that running a small business has been an ongoing financial challenge, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. A slower tourism season for the business compared with past years made it clear it couldn’t survive another winter, Miller said.
The takeout business, which employs three to four people, has razor-thin profit margins and has seen its customer base slowly decline over the past year and a half, she said.
“Daily Soup has been a labor of love these many years, and we have managed to continue because of great local support and our vibrant downtown community,” Miller said.
The business will remain open until Oct. 23, the same day as its opening anniversary.
Sanders stated her plans to have a celebration on the day of closure and encouraged regulars to stop in up to its closing day.
Community members on Facebook voiced their thanks and praise for the dedicated years and dishes they had received since 2012.
“So grateful for all the wonderful food you have prepared. We will miss you very much. We’ll plan to come as often as we can until you close…all the best to you in your next chapter,” wrote one commenter. “Thank you so much for always being so accommodating with everything and always serving with smiles.”
“A big loss to our community,” wrote another resident. “Such good wholesome food (would you consider publishing a soup recipe book?). Best wishes for [an] unexpected bounty coming your way.”
