Armsby Abbey will close for the summer, as sales dropped 90%
PHOTO/GRANT WELKER
Worcester's Armsby Abbey had remained open for takeout orders at a table set up at its front door.
Citing significant losses incurred from the coronavirus pandemic, Armsby Abbey Owners Alec Lopez and Sherri Sadowski announced they will close the downtown Worcester restaurant for the summer, beginning at 4 p.m. on Sunday, with a goal of reopening on Sept. 1.
The announcement came by way of a lengthy Facebook post published Monday evening, posted to the accounts of Armsby, Sadowski and Lopez.
“We reinvented ourselves from a dine-in only establishment to a well-oiled, takeaway machine,” the statement said. “The love and support from our family, friends, loved ones, and customers near & far has been beyond heart-warming. Unfortunately, it isn't enough to maintain the doldrums of summer in downtown Worcester.”
Restaurant management laid off 30 employees after sales fell on March 13, according to the statement. The popular establishment maintained 40-45% of pre-pandemic sales until Memorial day, when business again nosedived. Although a summer drop is typical, this year the decrease was much greater. Since outdoor dining reopened in Massachusetts, which Armsby Abbey does not have the space for, the restaurant is doing 10% of its typical, pre-pandemic sales, according to the closure announcement.
After months of being cooped up inside due to the economic closure and social distancing requirements, many are spending more time outside, the statement said -- something that Armsby Abbey management said they understood.
“We know you will head to the beaches,” they said. “We know the mountains up North are calling. We hear them too.”
The owners underscored the closure would be temporary, and said they were looking forward to taking the time off.
In the meantime, they urged their followers to follow the state’s reopening guidelines so that business might still resume at the end of the season.
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