The owner of a popular west Belfast eatery which was hit hard by the Primark fire has told of the "heartbreaking" decision to once again close, due to coronavirus.
Paul Donaghy, who has owned the West Gourmet Sandwich Bar in Castle Street for the past 18 years, said the decision to let some staff go this week and close the business had been "heart-renching".
The devastating move comes as the business is still recovering from the aftermath of the Primark fire in August 2018.
Situated just yards from Primark, the business was hit badly in the aftermath of the blaze as Castle Street was sealed off for a time.
Now, as the business felt it was "coming out the other end", it has once again been devastated, this time, by Covid-19.
Speaking to the Irish News, Mr Donaghy, a father-of-four, said the business had seen an "incredible" decline in recent weeks, going from serving around 600 customers a day to around 100.
"After the Primark fire, we have been coming out the other end and coronavirus hit and it has just become unworkable," he said.
"There has been an incredible decline. We would do 600 a day and this week, we are down 100. We got to the stage where we had staff running about with gloves on, taking vinegar bottles off tables. It's not good enough.
"We made the decision to close as we were wasting more money on staff. We can't hold out to it. The last couple of weeks there was just too many staff between the two shops".
Mr Donaghy said while some staff will be transferred to a second branch at Duncairn Gardens, some of the 16 employees had to be let go.
"It is absolutely heartbreaking," he said.
"Some of them were let go yesterday. It was terrible. They have been with us for many years".
