by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Caffe Athena, which was purchased by Christie and Andy Morgan from the original owners last spring, has closed. Located at 45 W. Bay St. in the Drew Building, the restaurant had been open for just over three years.
“I don’t know what happened,“ said Trish Geramajo, who works in one of the offices in the same building as the cafe. “I know, for sure, that they aren’t reopening it as Caffe Athena, but they haven’t told us what their plans are.”
Jayvee Viger, who along with former owner Athena Rassam started the cafe, said that they were both shocked and upset by the news.
“A friend of mine called me last week and told me that they were done,” he said. “I know that Athena is very upset. She worked very hard to build it into an institution. It’s her name.”
Viger speculated that slumping sales and high staff turnover were the primary factors behind the restaurant’s closing.
“I believe that many of our regular customers weren’t happy with the way things were running,” he said. “Athena and I both asked the new owners to call us if they were ever having any trouble, but they never took us up on it. If possible, we would like to buy it back and set things right.”
Andy and Christie Morgan were unable to be reached for comment.