A CAFE has closed after 14 years in business with the boss blaming a nearby office for the closure.
My Burrito in Bristol, which has operated since 2011, closed down recently with the blame placed on a nearby office run by Hargreaves Lansdown.
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The financial services company was blamed for the declining footfall in My Burrito.
A note pinned to the door of the café details the owners grievance with the office, even showing emails between the café boss and an employee of Hargreaves Lansdown.
My Burrito owner Esmerelda Martin-Rivera explains in the note that an increase in office workers working from home has impacted the cafes lunchtime trade.
Not only that but she blames Hargreaves Lansdown, and their offices a mere hundred yards from My Burrito, for worsening the situation with their subsidised in-office sandwiches.
She explains in the note “in 2024, Hargreaves Lansdown introduced Sandwich! Sandwich! As a concession in their premises and subsidised their offering to the tune of 35%.”
Martin-Rivera reached out to Hargreaves Lansdown about the issue and asked if My Burrito could offer the same 35% discount in a bid to win back customers.
The Hargreaves Lansdown employee replied saying that he was “very sorry to say we are not looking for another partner at this time” adding that he does “appreciate the difficulties you must be under to maintain your business.”
My Burrito has said it would hold no grudges against Sandwich! Sandwich!
Hargreaves Lansdown staff also reportedly enjoy subsidised drinks from Can’t Dance Coffee in their offices.
The note left by Martin-Rivera adds: “Hargreaves Lansdown should be ashamed having watched Rod & Ruby close when they introduced a coffee concession to their offices and have absolutely contributed to our closure.”
Martin-Rivera’s note also explains that the decline in office workers working in-office since Covid has had a dramatic impact on My Burrito’s business.
She explains that Covid hit the café hard with the nearby offices closing down for lockdowns.
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Staff never returned to offices full time according to Martin-Rivera who says only briefly in 2023 did things begin to return to normal for My Burrito.
She says in her note that “rampant inflation” and a “large increase in minimum wage” meant My Burrito had to increase prices to “keep their head above water.”
She adds that post Covid, with work from home more widely spread, “we are living in a different world.”
Offering a tongue in cheek special thanks to Hargreaves Lansdown Martin-Rivera’s note places special blame at the feet of the financial services business.
Her note reads that the large company had “absolutely contributed” to My Burrito’s closure.
The furious burrito boss has now closed My Burrito for good asking customers to “watch this space” for the business that takes over the premises and wishes them well.
My Burrito sauces and marinades can still be purchased online with the wider business seemingly surviving the Hargreaves Lansdown fallout.
Hargreaves Lansdown told The Sun: “We’re sorry to see a local business and one of our neighbours close.
“We’re proud of our existing partnerships with small local businesses that provide food and drink options for colleagues working at our Harbourside office.”
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