JANE'S CAFE 12.30PM TODAY - 'THIS CAFE IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE'
The Birchen Grove Garden Centre was at its Bank Holiday weekend busiest today and really buzzing - except for one area which was still and silent, Jane's Garden Café
The Café gorilla, usually dressed in seasonal or special occasion scarf, invoking both fear and curiosity in children, sat unadorned at the blocked off entrance to inform customer of the cafe's untimely closure.
I understand that owner, Jane O'Hara, actiivated the breakout clause of the contract with the Centre's owners when costs became too high, and margins too narrow. The closure reflects the national crisis in the hospitality sector and the need to support our local small businesses that are at the heart of the community.
The cafe busy on Thursday
Jane’s Garden Café had operated at Birchen Grove Garden Centre for seven years and has built up a reputation as an independent, friendly café.
It had a play area for toddlers valued by young families and quietly offered a calm sanctuary for various groups to relax and enjoy each other’s company. On Thursday morning they included a group of elderly people and a walking group. I regularly witnessed how staff looked after residents from the nearby care home withut fuss, as well as young adults with special needs.
The Café was a favourite with dog owners, dog friendly with staff ready with nibbles and a bowl of fresh water.
Jane offered a varied menu of fresh cooked food and delicious cakes from their Greek baker supplier. Jaane was always looking for ways to extend the menu, and the coffee was great!
The welcoming atmosphere was built up gradually and I fear a commercial catering company will not offer the same quality of food or personal warmth.
Regular customers are shocked at the news and there have been tears at the loss of a small local business that, without fuss or fanfare, has become an important destination for many.
It is ironic that Jane’s Café helped keep the Welsh Harp Environmental Centre open by hosting the successful petition presented to Brent Council, has itself now closed.
Wembley Matters on Friday asked Birchen Grove Garden Centre owners for a comment on the expected closure and details of the company and that would run the café but no response was received,
Joe, Jane's son, submitted this after reading people's comments below:
Wanted to post a comment to thank everyone for their kind words. I am Jane's son and would often take up a shift or two on the weekends. From all of us, the best takeaway from the cafe was the fact that we were able to contribute to a sense of community in the area, and our biggest memories from it will always be that we were able to provide that for people. I will miss it, and just wanted to thank whoever will read this for your amazing support over the years. It meant the world to my family and I feel that, although this chapter has ended, we were able to be a part of something that made a difference whilst we were there.
Thank you all. From Joe x
