Long-standing Co Armagh restaurant to close due to rising costs

A well-known restaurant in Portadown is set to close its doors later this month, ending nearly 30 years of serving the local community.

The Yellow Door Deli, located on Woodhouse Street, has been a community fixture for 27 years. The owners recently announced via social media that it is time to “say a final goodbye.”

The business also operates in Belfast, offering a delivery service for their deli boxes in the greater Belfast area. However, the Portadown deli was where it all started, and managing director Simon Dougan shared that the decision to close was made “with extreme sadness and regret.”

“The deli is a large premises and with that comes large overheads,” Dougan explained.

“We have tried to reinvent the deli over the last few years, but with soaring food, packaging, and energy prices, coupled with staff costs and the challenge of recruiting staff, the café/deli is no longer financially viable, and hasn’t been for a while.”

The company will now focus on other, more profitable sectors of the business, including wedding and events catering for private and corporate clients, as well as its wholesale bakery, which will continue to operate as usual.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our valued customers for their support and friendship over the years, and to the staff who have worked extremely hard to make the deli the welcoming place it is,” Dougan added. “In the meantime, pop in over the next three weeks and grab yourself a bargain; we’d be delighted to see you.”

The news was met with an outpouring of sadness from customers.

One supporter shared: “Yellow Door was my second family for many years, I’m so grateful for the opportunities and friends I’ve made along the way. Best wishes for the success of the events and the bakery team.”

Another commented that Yellow Door “has been a gleaming deli and restaurant for Portadown, without which the town would never have been the same.”

The business previously closed its café on Belfast’s Lisburn Road last December after 25 years of operation.

Image credit: Brian Thompson Photography