EASTHAMPTON — After more than a year in business, Bliss cafe will close its doors Friday, though its owners hope someone might step in to take over the Cottage Street establishment.
Ann and Clark “Skip” Matthews are closing the eatery they opened last summer at 42 Cottage St. to spend more time with family and focus on expanding their primary business, Louis & Clark Medical Equipment & Supply in Springfield, Ann Matthews said Wednesday.
“It was a very difficult, very emotional decision,” Matthews said. “It’s been a wonderful experience.”
Bliss focused on providing a range of high-quality, simple fare including vegetarian and all-natural options.
“My biggest fear is people will think it closed because it was mostly vegetarian – which is not true,” Matthews said. “We truly believe we started something original and different.”
Indeed, Bliss has been well-received be the community, evidenced by its 4½-star review on Yelp and many loyal customers, she said.
“We have gotten to know so many wonderful, faithful people who have come to us a couple times a week,” she said. “It’s really, really hard to leave Easthampton. We met a lot of great people.”
Business at the cafe has actually been good, Matthews said, but several factors led the Wilbraham couple to step down from the operation – soon losing their summer help, Skip Matthews’ decision to focus on the expansion of the medical supply business and Ann Matthews’ desire to spend more time with their children.
The Matthewses hope someone might be willing to take over Bliss in some capacity, as the cafe’s lease expires in February. They already have had a few inquiries and hope that someone will step up, Matthews said.
“Since we’ve put the notice up, a lot of other people have called and said they’re interested or they know someone who knows someone,” she said. “It’s a great space, it’s a great town … something is going to happen.”
Chris Lindahl can be reached at clindahl@gazettenet.com.