Local Cafe Closes Despite Community Support

Dawn Fletcher quickly took action when she heard about Nature’s Best Cafe planning to shut down last November. She initiated a GoFundMe that garnered over $5,000. Fletcher also created promotional magnets and distributed more than a thousand letters in the neighborhood. Her efforts aimed to support the small business.

Community members joined the rescue mission. One neighbor offered marketing expertise. Another conducted customer surveys to understand preferences better. However, these combined efforts could not counter the rising food costs. The cafe announced its pending closure on July 31 via social media.

Evonne Cruz, co-owner of Nature’s Best Cafe, shared, “We organized bingo and trivia nights, hosted various events, and engaged in catering. Despite working seven days a week, it doesn’t sustain us financially. We remain in the red.”

Simitrio Cruz, Evonne’s husband, had a longstanding career in the food industry before opening the cafe. A decade ago, they started the business at 1904 Brookdale Road near Route 59. Motivated by gluten allergies affecting his family, Simitrio aimed to offer healthy, gluten-free options.

The cafe’s menu grew to include hand-tossed pizzas, sandwiches, and salads, all made from scratch with local ingredients. While this approach set them apart, it also escalated costs. “Everything has increased, particularly ingredients like meats and vegetables. At one point, tomatoes were incredibly pricey,” Evonne remarked.

“Nothing has gone down. If anything, it’s gone up more. The food costs have just been through the roof.”

Even though local supporters helped to promote the cafe, foot traffic dwindled. “Catering helped cover expenses, but a steady influx of regular customers was necessary,” Evonne said. Data indicated declining customer visits over the years. Although no specific cause was identified, Evonne suspected the economy played a role.

Evening customer numbers experienced the steepest drop. This was despite efforts to boost social media engagement and host evening events. The business was gradually seeing fewer visits overall.

Closing the café poses emotional challenges. “It’s more than a business; it’s a family chapter. Our children worked here and grew up alongside neighborhood kids,” Evonne shared. “Simitrio has given his best, working extensively long hours. Changing this chapter will be tough for him.”

Dawn Fletcher also expressed her sadness over the closure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she aided the restaurant and observed Simitrio juggling a night job along with managing the cafe. “Simitrio was my youngest daughter’s first employer. She regards him as family. Every young person benefits from a patient, understanding initial employer,” she noted.

The GoFundMe page remains active to support Simitrio during this transition.