Pour one out for Newton’s C. Tsar’s: The hospitable Mediterranean restaurant has shut down. And, according to the Patch (hat tip to BRT for the heads-up!), they claim that ever-so-easy-to-malign Groupon is to blame. Curses! The place was formerly known as Ariadne but was rebranded to embrace a more economical, accessible price point. Then the restaurant also decided to issue Groupons. And then the owners were dismayed when people actually … opted to use them to save money and not spend more than their allotted $40.
In an email obtained by the Patch, co-owner Kathleen Malloy admitted that the “Groupon deal was also a factor in their having to close up shop.”
Apparently the owners offered two separate $40 Groupon deals. The first one went well, drawing a healthy influx of customers to the newly casual spot. But then they went for round two. And, strangely, people only spent $40 or less, which meant the restaurant didn’t make much of a profit at all! Because, you see, just like restaurants, customers also like to pinch pennies in a frightening economy.
It’s very sad to see a friendly neighborhood restaurant close. But, when you use discount sites, it’s just good business sense to assume the worst and hope for the best. Modern-day lesson: Do not pin your business’s livelihood in any way, shape, or form, on a discount website. Right? Do you think Groupon (and their thoughtless customers, who weren’t moved to shell out some money) was partially to blame?
