Popular cafe closes doors after nearly 3 decades in business as owners retire

A LOCAL cafe in Westmeath has announced its shock closure after almost 28 years.

The Spiced Bean Cafe on Mary Street in Mullingar, Co Westmeath closed today as the owners move into retirement.

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Aidan and Delia Mulligan opened Spiced Bean in October 1996 and for nearly three decades built up a meeting point for locals.

Customers became used to a friendly welcome, delicious food and coffee.

One of the things the cafe was known for was coffee-related quips chalked on the board beside the front door.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, the couple agreed that the highlight of the business was their customers.

They added that business was kept open through both good and bad times as a result of their customers.

They explained: “It’s been managing to keep it going, really, there were a lot of tough times, you go through so much, it’s 28 years – there was Celtic Tiger days, Covid, but a lot of tough times, and the thing was to get through all that and to be still going.

“A lot of it is down to brilliant people, brilliant customers, we’ve had so many faithful, loyal customers, and we have our lovely neighbours here on Mary Street.

“We have a great customer base that would call in to us every day, we see the same people, it’s great, you know. One who’s retired now would come in here when it was get tough at work, he would disappear for a while from work, and I think a lot of people were the same – call in to get away from the real world, and we’d have the chats.

“Somebody said to us recently they never realised there was an upstairs here – the upstairs was for the people who wanted to go somewhere quiet, but usually if you’re downstairs, there’s people in and out and we’re chatting and there’s plenty of buzz.”

They then expressed their gratitude to their loyal staff members, suppliers and visitors who have been calling in to wish them well.

This comes just days after a beloved takeaway open for more than 50 years announced it was closing its doors

Cafe Roma in Kilkenny city, is a family-run takeaway based on John Street.

The joint is known for its “mouth-watering food” and serves classic takeaway grub.

But bosses announced in a recent statement that the cafe is closing its doors in the coming weeks.

They revealed the sad news in a statement on the front of their premises, saying: “It is with great sadness that the Cafe Roma closes its doors on Monday, June 3 after 57 years of business.

“We would like to thank all our customers, staff and suppliers for their support throughout the years.”