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Downtown Rochester Cafe Closes Doors After Years of Struggle
2 Jun
Summary
- Mezza9 Cafe will close permanently at the end of June due to rising costs and low foot traffic.
- Owner Sammi Loo is launching a new venture, The Stubborn Donkey, at the end of the month.
- Loo cited challenges like high rent, property taxes, insurance, and the current economic climate.
Rochester's Mezza9 Café, a European-style establishment opened in early 2022, will cease operations on June 30. Owner Sammi Loo cited persistent challenges including rising operational costs, significant rent, property taxes, and insurance as major factors contributing to the closure. She also noted a consistent issue with low foot traffic in the downtown area.
Loo expressed that the decision was difficult, likening it to losing a loved one, and highlighted the broader economic pressures affecting small businesses. Despite closing Mezza9, Loo remains committed to the downtown Rochester community. She is actively preparing to introduce a new concept, The Stubborn Donkey, by the end of the current month.
The Stubborn Donkey will be located in the space of her recently closed 1928 Cocktails and Bites, which was a Shanghai speakeasy-inspired bar. This new venture will focus on cocktails and small bites. Loo, who also owns Bebap Korean Eats and Ootori Sushi, expressed gratitude to her patrons and emphasized the vital role small businesses play in a community's vibrancy.
