Open Letter to Landlords (Via Management Company)
Thank you for all the support with the petition for Caffè Inn.
As promised, here is the open letter regarding the tables outside Caffè Inn:
Date: 30 May 2021
My plea to the Landlords of Florence Walk.
I am writing an open letter as it affects the community and is a public matter. I write this with the hope of a positive outcome for all. I am writing simply as a friend of the family that run the Cafe Inn in Florence Walk.
I was dismayed, saddened and shocked when I discovered on the 16th of May that the cafe would no longer have their tables outside. I am writing today simply asking that this decision be reversed.
I trust that once you read this, your answer will be a resounding yes. The Cafe Inn is not just a cafe, for Florence Walk, it is the heart of the walk. It is where families, friends and colleagues gather and create memories. It has been a part of the community for over 30 years. Always with outside seating. Taking the tables away is like stabbing the heart of the walk, crippling it's potential.
There are over a thousand reasons why this would create a win / win situation for all.
Without the family knowing, I initiated a petition on change.org, to guage who felt the same as I do about the decision. Within a day the petition has exceeded 200 signatures. Just over a week later it achieved 1000 signatures. Here is the link:
I strongly recommend you read the reasons for signing section. It has also been brought to attention of local councillors who are supportive as well as sympathetic to the cause. They can't understand the reason for outside tables being removed.
The local newspaper would be willing to write a story, however the owners of the cafe have decided not to rock the boat or cause you negative publicity.
The world, as you know, is in a Pandemic and we are all trying to survive and recover from this. All trying to support one another, help businesses flourish in order to maintain their rents(to you) etc. I feel that the decision to stop outside seating at the Cafe Inn hinders its potential and in fact is a stab at the heart of the walk.
I implore you to review this decision, taking into account the impact it will have on so many: disabled individuals who have mobility challenges, NCT groups that like to gather there, little Noah, who has autism, and loves sitting outside to eat his regular sausages from the cafe, all age groups especially the elderly who have had to shield for such a long time and prefer outdoor seating and finally - our community fighting to survive a pandemic needing options regarding seating when they dine out. The Walk itself, having less people visit due to reduced number of seating.
Trust me when I say I write this from the heart, only wishing the best for everyone involved - please don't take away the tables indefinitely. Allow this family business to recover and thrive from this pandemic. Allow a community focused, environment. atmosphere to continue as it has done for nearly 3 decades.
I will not a expect a written response, you do not owe me that. I need no explanation.
My only goal is to get the cafe tables back outside, for you to see that this decision should be reneged as soon as possible.
I hope to see your response by action, with the weather improving the outside seating at the cafe will bring more people to the walk.
In wait of action.
Yours sincerely,
Kamala Haffner