Southern suburbs cafe My Little Foodery set to close on Sunday after four years in business

A southern suburbs cafe owner says he may never recover financially after being forced to close his business due to rising costs.

The owner of a beloved southern suburbs cafe said he fears the debt he’s incurred since the start of the pandemic will “stick with him for life”.

Jeremy Goucher has announced he is closing down his cafe of four years, My Little Foodery at Seaford Heights, due to increased business costs and reduced consumer spending.

Their last day of trade will be Sunday, June 9.

Mr Goucher described hospitality as a “brutal industry” and said he was left with no choice but to close My Little Foodery, which previously operated on Port Rd, at Hindmarsh.

“Wages are increasing, super increasing, rent increasing with little to no support from landlords,” he told The Advertiser.

My Little Foodery at Seaford Heights has announced they are closing down. Picture: Facebook.

Their last day of trade will be Sunday, June 9. Picture: Facebook.

“Food prices are through the roof, electricity at an all time high. It just makes it impossible to operate.

“You’re almost forced to close with no choice.

“I haven’t taken home a wage in months, I’m running the business at a loss just so staff have a job and you don’t want to let down your loyal customers.

“The debt incurred from this and from Covid days will stick with me for life I think.”

Mr Goucher opened the cafe on Port Rd in 2019 and after his lease ended in 2023, moved the business to Seaford for a “fresh start”.

But the pandemic followed by the cost of living crisis has left him with a “big financial hole to fix.”

“Unfortunately there is a time when you can’t take any more hits,” he said.

“Opening a cafe was an all time dream of mine for a very long time and I believe we delivered a much loved offering within the local community.

“We have enjoyed meeting so many great people and loved sharing the love of food and coffee with you all.”

Mr Goucher said five of his employees were now left without a job.

“I have one staff member who came from another cafe which closed, had to break the news to her again this week. She was devastated,” he said.

He said there was no easy fix to the issues facing the hospitality sector, and more closures were likely.

“It’s only going to hurt more people who have put their heart and soul into building a business,” he said.

Mr Goucher said five of his employees were now left without a job. Picture: Facebook.

Mr Goucher said the debt incurred from recent trading and from Covid days will stick with him for life. Picture: Facebook.

But Mr Goucher said he’s been moved by the support of his loyal customers since announcing the sad news.

“It breaks my heart. The outpouring of support and messages have been overwhelming. I really didn’t think we would affect this many people,” he said.

“What do they say? Onwards and upwards.

“It will take some time to recover that’s for sure, but time will heal.”

The closure comes amid a string of other cult establishments ceasing business for similar reasons including the North Adelaide Burger Bar, Parkside burger joint Gang Gang and Norwood Italian Restaurant, Martini on the Parade.