10/09/2022
Restaurant Closing:
When I set out on the journey to open the Headlands almost a year and a half ago I never imagined the journey we would take or that it would lead here. We had a vision for our from scratch kitchen that I hoped would be bigger than just a great place to gather and enjoy high quality meals with friends or loved ones but would also be able to help with food security partnering with the Untiedt’s to preserve foods.
Together we built a beautiful space.
We like most restaurants are battling inflation and labor shortages. Our business model was built with the plan to be open far more hours than we can staff currently. In my 17 years at Waverly Cafe we faced huge challenges, the economic crisis of 2008, occasional staffing shortages, the pandemic and all of the challenges that followed and through it all we found a way to overcome but launching a restaurant amongst todays current challenges has proved to be too much. The delays in opening alone were crippling and we were in trouble before we even opened. My core team is exhausted continually running short staffed and covering extra shifts. This industry even in the best of times isn’t for the faint of heart, some days I can barely make it from my car into my house and open my hands because they are so stiff. But it is also so incredibly rewarding and I have more “extended family” in guests and staff that I will always cherish.
Restaurant’s all over the country(like most small businesses) are struggling to overcome these challenges. Restaurants(especially those that don’t serve alcohol operate on very small margins and costs have increased so rapidly that operators can’t raise prices enough to keep up, couple that with staffing shortages, product shortages etc and it is a testimony to the passion of restaurant owners that so many are still here given the last few years. I send out so much love to the other restaurant owners and staff in our community and beyond. I will keep you in my prayers. Your doing important work providing your community with not only nourishment but a space for gathering.
To the Untiedt's thank you for thinking of me for this journey. I am sorry I couldn’t make a go of it. It was an honor to attempt such an amazing thing with such amazing people. Your generosity to the community is incredible and we are so lucky to have you.
To my staff, you know you were more than employees: working with you will be one of my life’s greatest gifts.
Potential employers these people will likely need no help finding employment because they are incredible but if you have openings you would like me to share with them I will pass it along.
To my Waverly Cafe\Headlands faithful thank you for your years of support. You made it worth every minute.
To my family, thank you for your endless support and sacrifice, on the plus side we can finally enjoy a weekend off:)
We will be open today and Weds-Friday or until we run out of food:)
Sarah
