A fundraiser has been launched to help keep alive a popular Morecambe Promenade café that has served the town for the last 38 years.
Rita’s Café sits on Marine Road Central, near to the Midland Hotel and The Platform, and has been serving customers since the late 1980s.
But, the popular eatery has battled the economic pressures of the Covid pandemic and the rising cost of living in recent years, leaving the business struggling.
Now, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to try and raise some funds.
It has been set up by Lisa Turner, daughter of the owners, Lynn and Graham Turner.
Lisa said: ‘’We are trying to keep our small business alive.
‘’We are very grateful for all our customers and their loyalty over the years. They have poured their hearts into the café most will say it's the heart of Morecambe.
‘’However, we're reaching out today with honesty as things happen and small businesses have their struggles. During Covid a lot of small businesses including us were left in a rough patch because of rising costs and slower sales we did try our best and stayed open for pretty much the majority of the pandemic to keep serving all our customers safely and with care but this did take its toll on us especially now with the cost of living and the prices of food and utilities going through the roof.
‘’Our main concern now is losing all our older customers that we have first thing every morning without fail and leave them without their daily safe space- a place for routine, peace, conversation and connection. We understand how important we are to most of them and it would break our hearts to have to say goodbye.
‘’This business isn't just only an income it's been a passion and built with care by our family over many years. We're coming together now as a family to reach out to everyone for any help possible to keep the journey going for as long as they can and also for Rita's legacy to stay alive as most of our customers will remember how much she loved it.’’
Rita’s is named after Rita Robinson, who ran the café for many years until she passed away in July 2024 at the age of 91.
‘’It's a long shot but any help from the community and our amazing customers that are able to donate, share or just even leave a kind message it truly means more than we can express,’’ adds Lisa.
‘’Sometimes of a weekend or when the sun is out it can seem busy, but those days are far and in between due to weather and limited tables inside, and with all the price rises a lot more of those days are needed, and quiet days have risen immensely.
‘’We know how heartbreaking it will be to Lynn and Graham to let the legacy of Rita’s Café go and how upsetting for staff to lose a job they have been in for years and our regular customers to lose a place they have been visiting since the beginning of time which is like a second home for some.
‘’This business is and has been a big part of our lives a big part of the community for everyone family or customers past and present.’’
You can find the fundraising page here
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