'Things were tough' - popular coffee chain to close all locations in Clare and Limerick
Firm owning all Habit Coffee+Retail outlets in voluntary liquidation
A popular coffee chain with locations in Clare and Limerick has ceased trading after the company which owned it fell into voluntary liquidation.
All four locations of Habit Coffee+Retail have closed, its owner confirmed.
Along with a coffee truck operating in Shannon Town, the company had three locations in Limerick city on O'Connell Street, at the junction of Catherine Street and Thomas Street, and on Lower Shannon Street.
It's understood that in total, 22 jobs have been lost with staff told of the news on Sunday, February 26.
Barry Flavin, who owns the coffee shop firm, confirmed the news to Clare Live this Monday morning.
"Things were tough, there was money owed to Revenue and everything came crashing down," he said.
"We tried to structure a deal, but when January and February came, with the minimum wage going up, and the VAT on the same week, the extra money we would have had was wiped out," the businessman added.
Mr Flavin also leased The Still House which he ran for the last year.
The landmark pub in Thomas Street is expected to be open and trading as normal in the coming days.
Habit began trading in Limerick city during the Covid-19 pandemic. They previously also had a location in Kilkee.