AIBU to call out their hypocrisy?

[gillefc82]

Our local restaurant/wine bar has announced it’s closing its doors today. DH and I are close to the owner and most of the staff as we visit regularly and he’s shared that for the past 4 months or so, they have made no money and he’s been heavily subsidising to keep the business going. He’s now sadly reached the conclusion that to continue doing this would be madness and the best thing to do is cut his losses now, especially as he’s recently lost his last permanent waitress and recruitment has been a nightmare for him in the past.

Word has obviously gotten around and this evening there’s been lots of posters on our Facebook local area page taking the opportunity to stick the knife in. On one hand complaining about it the fact it’s closing, and on the other expressing their lack of surprise it has closed as in their view the food quality/service etc has been going downhill for some time.

So many of them are apparently rueing the loss of the only higher end restaurant of this type in the area, but most of them hardly/never bothered going there and giving them their custom when they were trading.

I’m gutted that a place we loved, that was in walking distance of our house and was run by some lovely people is now no longer there and it’s pissing me right off to read all these posts from people who feel entirely comfortable and entitled to criticise the hardworking owner and staff for having the audacity to shut down, but who never bothered going there when they had the chance!

My DH is telling me not to bother commenting as we have a few keyboard warriors on these pages and he doesn’t want it descending into an online spat. I’m not one for getting involved in stuff like this usually but, possibly due to the couple of beers I’ve had which brings out my inner petty princess, I’m really tempted to say something and call them out. If nothing else, I want the owner and the team to know that there are some people in the area that appreciated their efforts and valued the good times they gave us.

So, do I say something and call out their hypocrisy or step away from my mobile and be the bigger person?

If it was me, I wouldn't get involved in any argy bargy (and particularly not with any individual) but I would have to say what a shame it was, how much I'll miss going there and that it's a pity the restaurant hadn't had more local support.

I think there’s a middle ground here - you can show your appreciation without calling people out. Tell the owner you’re gutted that they’re closing, that you have lots of happy memories of eating and drinking there etc.

I really feel for people who work in the hospitality sector - a local pub I regularly ate at had to close recently due to rising costs (in spite of the fact it was always busy.)

We had a local pub which shut a few yrs ago and so many people complained about it (100s). Some even set up a 'save our pub' group to stop it being sold as a home . It went to hearings and all sorts, took yrs .
At one point someone who did frequent it actually posted if all those who were complaining had turned out once or twice a week the pub would still be open and making profit!