Greek eatery’s sad kiss goodbye
A POPULAR Greek restaurant has succumbed to the pressures of coronavirus and shut.
Owners of ‘Aristo, on Chestergate, in Macclesfield town centre, have announced the eatery will be closing down.
In an emotional post on the restaurant’s Facebook page Nikos Pavlis said the ‘difficult decision’ had been made because of Covid social distancing regulations.
These mean that the team’s warm, familiar way of doing business would no longer be possible.
Nikos said: “Sad to say that post lockdown ‘‘‘Aristo will not be turning on the lights and reopening its doors onto
Chestergate.
”We welcomed you with a kiss on each cheek and a hug when you arrived and again when you left. That last sentence alone says it all doesn’t it?
“And should help you to understand that this decision hasn’t been an easy one.
“Because in reality we want to kiss and hug you all, wrap our arms around your shoulders and dance Zorba late into the night as if nothing had changed.
”Enforced circumstances will not allow us to continue being as we once were. This time, is not those times and goodness knows if they will ever return?
“The way we must all gather socially in future is not an ‘Aristo recipe to be shared on our menu. We have tried to find a solution, without success and so our friends, sadly, it’s time to call it a day.”
It remains to be seen how many other follow suit as lockdown is eased and restaurants try to get to grips with the new rules.
The announcement by ‘Aristo came on June 4 at a time the government was looking to get businesses open again.
It had originally shut in March when lockdown began.
Nikos said: “To our colleagues and fellow hospitality friends and neighbours in Chestergate and Macclesfield we wish you all well and appreciate that you will also be struggling.
”None of us could have prepared for this pandemic and its aftermath.”
Nikos ended by giving a heartfelt thanks to all restaurant’s customers, saying, ‘they were the best of times, we relished every moment, you made ‘Aristo’.