New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
As announced on its Facebook page earlier today from owner Cheri Lindsey:
“To My Amazing Customers,
It is with a very heavy heart that I write this announcement. Unfortunately, after 74 years of being in business, Lindsey’s Family Restaurant has closed its doors for good. This decision was not made lightly and has been extremely hard to come to terms with. I have dedicated 40 years of my life to providing our community with delicious, homemade food and excellent service and am so proud of all we have accomplished. Sadly, like so many other restaurants before us, we have finally succumbed to COVID.
Although government funding we received allowed us to operate for a couple years longer than some, ultimately having to shut down 2 days per week due to lack of staffing, increasing wages, increasing food cost and a decrease in consumer spending, I am left with this startling reality.
I want everyone to know that it has been an honor to serve you over the past four decades and I could not imagine dedicating my life to anything else. I have seen generations of families come through our doors. I have shared in the mourning of parents and spouses lost and rejoiced in the birth of children and grandchildren. I have been fortunate enough to employ some absolutely incredible people that have become more like family than employees and will forever be indebted to them for helping to make Lindsey’s such a special place. Lindsey’s has allowed me to show love and appreciation through our food to thank countless nurses, caregivers, first responders, veterans and local businesses throughout the years and for that I will be forever grateful.
Never in my life would I have thought this would be how things would end – so abruptly with no closure for myself, my family, my employees or my customers. At the end of the day, we are not shutting down because the quality of our food declined. We are not shutting down because people did not want to come to eat here anymore, as there were often lines out the door. We are shutting down because we could not physically staff our restaurant to be open 7 days a week. This fact has left me shocked, devastated and confused.
Please know that closing this way will never sit well with me and is something that I am going to have to work through in the months and years to come. My heart is broken. I cannot say thank you enough to everyone for your patronage and support over all these years. It has meant more than you could ever know.”
Sincerely,
Cheri Lindsey
I am deeply saddened to see this happen to your wonderful restaurant. This is, as you say, a startling reality. It is as if all the employees that lost jobs over the last several years have simply found some way not to work again – leaving countless businesses closing, or limping along permanently short-staffed with burned out employees who cannot afford to join those that have simply vanished from the work force. It would be wonderful if you could rise, like a Phoenix from the ashes, and find a small rental kitchen to prepare some of your signature dishes or holiday fare for special times, like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Or, maybe, you’ll just bask in the sunshine of a warm vacation spot – and regroup. Whatever life brings your way – be well, and be happy.