Sweet Carrot latest restaurant claimed by COVID
Sweet Carrot, the fast-casual restaurant founded by Angela Petro of caterer Together & Co., is closing its remaining shop for good.
After a temporary closure was announced last month, in a lengthy Facebook post this week, Petro said the stress of the coronavirus pandemic became too much for the small eatery on the corner of West 5th Avenue and Grandview Avenue.
“Without a clear end to the challenges of the pandemic and its aftermath, I’ve decided that Sweet Carrot will close for dining and focus solely on catering for now,” she wrote.
Petro didn’t specify what those challenges were, but restaurants throughout the country are struggling with ingredient shortages, spikes in commodity prices, a workforce that’s reluctant to return to restaurant jobs, and a vocal minority of customers who push back on mask requirements and other COVID protocols.
The closure comes after Sweet Carrot opened and then closed two other restaurants in the Columbus area in 2019, saying it expanded too quickly.
In her most recent Facebook post,
Petro described the stress faced by her staff.
“A few weeks ago, as I was trying to help the team plug a myriad of holes, I witnessed the anxiety, stress, selflessness and loyalty that the remaining team members were struggling with,” she wrote on Facebook. “I also watched as we failed some of our guests one minute then made people smile the next. It was heartbreaking and in that moment I knew it needed to end for the sake of the team and our supportive community of fans.”
Sweet Carrot was known for its choose-your-own combos featuring mac and cheese, chicken meatballs, pancakes and barbecue brisket.
It opened in 2015 in the building that was home to Rife’s Market for 78 years, which Petro bought for $700,000.
Petro’s other brands include Together & Co., Kittie’s, High Line Car House and The Fives.