The Ground Floor Café in Kilkenny, tucked nicely into the corner opposite the AIB, has closed its doors for the final time.
There had been some talk in recent weeks following the closure of The Cutting Vedge around the corner on Ormonde Street that The Ground Floor café may be considering its options but a sign in the window of the café confirmed details of its immediate closure this week.
A popular spot, particularly with the outdoor seating available on High Street, The Ground Floor’s early morning openings (pre 9am) have come in handy over the years and any time you pass it in town there’s usually some good hustle and bustle – plenty of fare on the lunch front, sweet treats from early morning, friendly and helpful staff, ticking all the boxes.
The sign in the window this morning (and yes, that’s me in the reflection) reads “Thank you for being a loyal customer of The Ground Floor. Your laughter, chats and smiles have filled the walls with warmth and joy!”
“This business would not have run as smoothly but for the excellent staff throughout the years. We are looking forward to new beginnings… and may our paths cross again someday!”
While the notice doesn’t suggest a specific reason for the closure, you can’t see a week go by on the Irish food scene without reading about another café closure, be it in an urban or rural setting. Rents, rates, warehoused payments, huge increases in utility costs, increased labour costs, and more have all been cited in recent months with closures in the Irish hospitality sector reported at over 300 since the latter half of 2023.
While The Ground Floor will be missed by its regular customers, visitors and tourists alike, there is some positive news in the area with Caffe500, the Carlow-based Italian restaurant, set to open its second location across the street in what was the old Willoughby’s café / Tiempo tapas bar building.
