Perth cafe Mhor Coffee House has closed its doors after economic challenges and low footfall in the city centre.
The cafe on Kinnoull Street closed for the last time on Saturday.
Co-founder Tricia Fox says it became a mathematical certainty the cafe had to close.
“Costs are rising and the footfall is not coming back to the city centre,” she says.
“Without customers you don’t have enough to pay your way.
“It just became an inevitability and we had no choice other than place it under administration. It’s very sad.”
Mhor Coffee House closure
As several Perth businesses have recently closed, the businesswoman is calling for people to come back to the office.
With many city centre properties and offices empty, local businesses are not getting the footfall needed to stay open.
Ms Fox believes local employers, including Perth and Kinross Council, need to tell staff to start working from the office again.
Despite it being the height of tourist season, Mhor Coffee House saw its trade dip dramatically in July.
It has also noticed that people now spend less in the cafe due to the cost of living crisis.
“I really feel for all the small businesses that have closed their doors, because it’s heartbreaking,” says Ms Fox.
“Less footfall, cost of living crisis, and increasing costs makes it incredibly difficult for small businesses sadly.
“One ask that I’ve got for the public is that they support their local independent businesses now, because they really need them.”
While the Mhor Coffee House has shut, the coffee roaster side of the business is still trading.
The cafe opened in October 2020 and employed a team of five staff.
“I’m incredibly sad for the whole team who have put their heart and soul into this business,” says the co-founder.
“It’s so difficult for small businesses out there. We’re not alone, this is a sector wide issue and a city centre wide issue.”
Henderson Loggie have been appointed by the directors as liquidators.
Conversation