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19
Aug 2024
'Diminished footfall' causes Harrogate dog café to close
A Harrogate café serving baked goods for dogs has closed its doors.
The Dogs Bakery and Café, on Regent Parade, took to social media to announce the news yesterday.
Owner Emma Ashurst said it was the “hardest decision to make” and attributed the closure to lower footfall.
The café, which opened in 2022, served afternoon tea for dogs, which included meat-flavoured biscuits, oat balls, cupcakes and meat pâtés, as well as tea and coffee for owners.
Ms Ashurst told the Stray Ferret she has “lived her dream, if only for a short while”. However, it was increasing overheads that also led to the closure:
She said:
Since the start of this year footfall has diminished, overheads keep going up, people look to be spending less or spending on more important things.
We seem to forget that going for a coffee or out for food is a luxury.
Small local businesses don’t get enough help – marketing & advertising is expensive.
If the economy was in a better place, and local small businesses were given more help, then maybe I wouldn't have had to close.
But hope is not lost, as The Dogs Bakery will continue to operate online.
The social media post said all biscuits made in the shop will be available to buy online and local deliveries will be made during the week.
It added:
We will still have our doggy afternoon tea to buy, plus our Christmas and birthday boxes – and maybe some new lines. Watch this space.
Ms Ashurst thanked all her "amazing customers and their pooches" for the support she has received over the last few years, adding without them "it would never have been possible".
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