05/24/2023
To all of our dear friends, this is absolutely the hardest post I have ever had to write and there is no easy way of starting it, so I’ll just dive in.
It is with great disappointment and heartache that I am posting to let you know that Mika & I will be closing the restaurant permanently, effective Saturday, 5/27. We have been working diligently since we officially opened in Dec. 2020 to create the financial setting necessary for our long-term success, but unfortunately this does not appear to be possible in our current climate. If Mika & I had to point to one major error in our judgement when opening this dream of ours, we would point to our desire to help all of the restaurant employees who were out of work during the pandemic whom we over-zealously hired to the maximum imaginable (at one point hiring 18 CoS laid-off employees.) Being extremely short on payroll because of this, we were forced to take out Merchant Cash Advances at a repayment rate of 150% (or 50% interest). Once we took out the first ridiculously priced shark Cash Advance, we were forced to take out more… and more… and more, until the burden of debt became so great that we could no longer keep up with our most important financial obligations like paying rent or even affording basic supplies for the restaurant as Mika & I have watched every penny both professionally and personally go to paying off the debilitating debt of early business decisions.
We want you to know that a lack of sales or support did not play a part in this outcome. Sales have thankfully been stable since we opened. We have been so overwhelmingly supported through our wonderful CoS community as a whole, as well as an abundance of help from a couple special individuals. Mika & I cannot adequately express in words how much your support, love, and patronage has meant to us over these past 3 years. For so many of you, your family has become a part of our family.
Because of our situation, and without a location and the equipment necessary to conduct it, we are being forced to cancel all cooking classes as well. It is our utmost priority to refund each of you that has so graciously purchased a ticket ASAP, and we will work diligently to do so in the timeliest of manners possible beginning this week.
Mika has so enjoyed sharing her passion and culinary talents with our small corner of the world, and I have so enjoyed being a part of this journey and helping my wife build her dream which has since become mine. While we are uncertain of what the future holds, we are confident that we are guided by a force greater than ourselves, and we surrender these uncertainties in faith and hope for a brighter future… and just maybe… a brand new location where we can continue to do what we do best: crafting amazingly delicious food and creating memories that last a lifetime.
This experience has meant the world to us, and it is all thanks to you, our dearest friend.
In sincerity and hopefulness with warmest regards,
Zac Short, Co-Owner, Mika’s Pierogi Kitchen
PS: To end on a positive note, courtesy of Mika, something wonderful did happen in a midst of difficult times!
We are happy to share with all of you that we will be expecting and welcoming a new baby to arrive around Mika’s birthday in January! ❤️🙏🏼 🍼👶
