Last week, Paper & Cup coffee shop in Kendall Yards, in a small front corner of the Inlander's building, closed its doors. Owned by Celeste Shaw and Gina Garcia, Paper & Cup served pastries from their popular South Spokane spot Chaps Diner & Bakery for just shy of three years. We reached out to Shaw for comment on the decision; here is her response:
"The businesses affected by the coronavirus face a different kind of sadness: the anguish of an unexpected disaster when everything was going well. Paper and Cup was the kiss of Chaps. It had razor-thin margins to meet, but we justified its presence as relevance in the community. We were excited and honored to join the Kendall Yards family. The decision to close has created an unsettling sadness and perhaps, underscores the devastation of the economy during the COVID crisis. To operate a small business in the hospitality/restaurant industry now leaves no forgivable room for a decrease in income or business. Adhering to the government phases in addition to facing uncertain times, we reluctantly made the decision to close."Meanwhile, Chaps plans to reopen for limited Phase 2 operations later this month, on June 17.
Another offshoot of a beloved local restaurant also closed its doors for the last time late last week: Fleur de Sel Artisan Creperie on the lower South Hill, near the Sacred Heart campus. The creperie was owned by Laurent and Patricia Zirotti of Post Falls' French fine dining destination Fleur de Sel, which remains open. Here is the owners comment on the decision, shared last week on Facebook:
"Dear Friends of Fleur de sel Crêperie,
We want to thank you for your loyalty, support, friendships and business over the last 4 1/2 years. This crisis has forced us is into making the difficult choice to close. We have really enjoyed sharing with you our French heritage.... We also thank all the wonderful people who helped make the creperie what it was. As some of you know, our Mothership in Post Falls has reopened (no crepes though, sometimes on specials). If you still own a gift certificate from the Crêperie, we will gladly honor it there. Stay healthy and be kind to each other.
Laurent and Patricia"
