TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Crossroads Café in Downtown Terre Haute closed its doors Wednesday for the last time.
The owner, Libby Waters, said with more expenses and less money coming in due to COVID-19, it had to happen.
“It’s been a dream come true. Unfortunately, it’s coming to an end,” she said.
Waters said owning Crossroads Café was an accomplishment. But because of continued restrictions, it was hard keeping the dream alive.
“We’re just not bringing in enough money to pay all the bills and all that kind of stuff. But we also have a large repair in the kitchen that we can’t really pay for,” she said.
Crossroads Café isn’t the only restaurant that’s had to close this year. According to the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association, one in five restaurants in the Hoosier state have had to say goodbye due to the pandemic.
“Nearly 20 percent of Indiana’s restaurants have permanently closed. We have significant double digits of restaurants thinking about temporarily closing in January and February,” said Patrick Tamm, President & CEO of the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association.
While Crossroads had to be one of the 20 percent, those who’ve worked there are hopeful for the future.
“I think everybody’s going to move on to bigger things so hopefully it’s all good,” said Gracie Cohen-Cook, a server at Crossroads Café.
The building has been sold to Federal Coffee and Fine Foods. They have plans to expand.
