Mama's Food Shop, the 15-year-old comfort food staple on East 3rd Street, officially closed its doors on Sunday night. Jeremy Clancy, who has owned Mama's for the last six years, tells the Local East Village that rising property taxes and a rapidly changing neighborhood demographic have made it impossible for the restaurant to stay open.
EV Grieve notices that Clancy has posted a letter on the restaurant's site:
I feel for those who are opening small businesses in New York City in this day and age. We live in a city where the Health Department has far too much power, the cost of the permits, inspections, and maintenance are so high it is impossible for a Mom & Pop operation to keep up with. I know the city needs to make income, yet I am afraid the ways in which they are doing this is going to cost all of our neighborhoods the character that we look for in this city.
Mama's joins other recently shuttered East Village establishments like Kate's Joint and Life Cafe. Clancy finishes his letter by assuring patrons that he will continue to support small business in the city, "I simply can't run one anymore," he says. "It's just too damn hard."
· Mama's Food Shop Closes After 15 Years [EV Grieve]
· More On the Sudden Closing of Mama’s Food Shop [The Local]
· Mama's Food Shop [Official Website]
· All Coverage of Mama's Food Shop [~ENY~]
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