Well-known Virginia business, The Riverfront Bar, has become the latest food outlet to fall victim to outside pressures when it closes its doors at the end of the month.
Despite operating for 22 years on Virginia's busy Main Street, the owners of the Riverfront have said the "combination of food inflation, rising energy costs, increasing labor costs, commercial rate increases, and the VAT increase to 13.5% have made [their] business unviable". Jimmy and Antoinette Murray told customers of their difficult decision on social media.
"We just cannot absorb these costs and give a service to our customers at reasonable prices, especially considering the cost-of-living increases being experienced in other areas by our customers," a post reads. The couple thanked their "many loyal customers" without whom, they said they would not have been in business for such a "sustained period". But, describing their situation as a very sad and emotional time for all involved they added that also "fear they will not be the last to find themselves in this position.
The owners advise customers that vouchers bought for the Riverfront will be honoured up until the 28th of January, the day before they close their doors for good.
