Well Dangit
Oct. 6th, 2022 11:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
taz_39So as I'm sitting in the pit tonight, I'm checking over my foodie lists for upcoming cities.
I have been doing this a week or two ahead, just to make sure that links still work and restaurants are still open, that kind of stuff.
Tonight I checked on the Lexington restaurant links, and was surprised and disappointed to see that Sav's, a popular West African restaurant that has been in my personal top 10 since last year, is permanently closed as of the end of August.
This is now the second restaurant in my top 10 list (which you can see HERE if you're a friend) that has either closed or relocated such that I'll miss going there.
Plus, in EVERY city so far, I've had to remove at least one restaurant from my lists due to closure, either temporary or permanent...and each time, the cause is listed as "inflation" or "staffing difficulties" or "effects of the pandemic".
DAMMIT, covid! Ruining everything!
I was so excited for Sav's. They were gonna be my very first experience with West African food.
And I feel very bad for the owner too. He's got a big family and that restaurant has been his livelihood for fourteen years.
It was so popular, in fact, that he's still going to keep making his own ice cream and African sauces to sell in local retail markets.
But still. The local news did an interview with him, and he's incredibly sad to have to close. And it will be hard for him to find work, too.
The other restaurant that I will miss is Sovengard in Grand Rapids.
They are upscale and serve Nordic food using local ingredients.
They, at least, will happily be going back into business after relocating.
But still.
I know that there are sooo many great restaurants out there deserving of attention, and I'm spoiled to be able to try any of these at all.
I FEEL spoiled griping about the handful that I was looking forward to and will miss.
But that aside, because I'm tracking these places, it is clear to see that restaurants across the country are being deeply impacted by covid and the economic state, STILL.
So all that said: support your local businesses. Ask them how things are going.
They may be putting on a bold face while facing overwhelming obstacles, and could probably use local support and patronage.
<3
I have been doing this a week or two ahead, just to make sure that links still work and restaurants are still open, that kind of stuff.
Tonight I checked on the Lexington restaurant links, and was surprised and disappointed to see that Sav's, a popular West African restaurant that has been in my personal top 10 since last year, is permanently closed as of the end of August.
This is now the second restaurant in my top 10 list (which you can see HERE if you're a friend) that has either closed or relocated such that I'll miss going there.
Plus, in EVERY city so far, I've had to remove at least one restaurant from my lists due to closure, either temporary or permanent...and each time, the cause is listed as "inflation" or "staffing difficulties" or "effects of the pandemic".
DAMMIT, covid! Ruining everything!
I was so excited for Sav's. They were gonna be my very first experience with West African food.
And I feel very bad for the owner too. He's got a big family and that restaurant has been his livelihood for fourteen years.
It was so popular, in fact, that he's still going to keep making his own ice cream and African sauces to sell in local retail markets.
But still. The local news did an interview with him, and he's incredibly sad to have to close. And it will be hard for him to find work, too.
The other restaurant that I will miss is Sovengard in Grand Rapids.
They are upscale and serve Nordic food using local ingredients.
They, at least, will happily be going back into business after relocating.
But still.
I know that there are sooo many great restaurants out there deserving of attention, and I'm spoiled to be able to try any of these at all.
I FEEL spoiled griping about the handful that I was looking forward to and will miss.
But that aside, because I'm tracking these places, it is clear to see that restaurants across the country are being deeply impacted by covid and the economic state, STILL.
So all that said: support your local businesses. Ask them how things are going.
They may be putting on a bold face while facing overwhelming obstacles, and could probably use local support and patronage.
<3
