‘Heartbreaking decision’ to close popular restaurant

OWNERS of the Peachtree East restaurant have taken the “heartbreaking decision” to cease trading after seven years in operation.

Peachtree East announced on Wednesday that it would close its doors permanently due to an ever-challenging economic climate which put a significant strain on the business.

The business tried to absorb “huge increases” in energy and gas bills along with food and supply costs over the last year without passing on too much to the customers.

A further price hike to their energy bill over the Christmas period put more pressure on the business and despite putting the restaurant on the market in February, they had to close their doors.

“We had to do what was right for the business, for our staff going forward because we couldn’t sustain the kind of bills anymore,” Paul Phillips, owner of Peachtree East, told The Echo.

“Electricity, gas bills, food costs, everything has just skyrocketed.

“It’s like the elephant in the room, every food business is just being hammered and the margin isn’t there.

“It’s heartbreaking for us because we are a pillar of the community and there was a lot of good positive things there.

“We traded through Covid, we actually expanded the building in Covid and then we get hit with what is basically the war which is causing the increase in the cost of energy which is a knock on effect for food costs, packaging, you name it.

“It just got to the stage where we unfortunately had to stop, we couldn’t pass on those kinds of costs to customers.”

Since Killinarden native Paul Phillips opened the doors of Peachtree East in August 2016, they have fostered a great relationship with a strong customer base.

Described as “a hotel without the rooms”, the Peachtree prided itself on serving high-quality fresh food to the people of Tallaght.

Last October, The Echo reported that the restaurant employed 25 members of staff, all of whom were living in the locality.

At that time, Phillips detailed how the business model in the restaurant industry was “broken” due to increasing production costs and bills.

Taking to social media on Wednesday, the business thanked the community for the support over the last seven years.

“We would like to thank beyond words all of our staff past and present, our loyal customers and followers,” a post on the Peachtree East Facebook page reads.

“It truly has been some ride. You supported us unwaveringly from the start, through covid and through this current unforgiving economic environment.

“With extortionate energy prices, huge increases in food and supply costs it is simply not viable to operate.”

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