Colorado Springs sees a surge of local restaurants close, here’s why

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — It was just last year that Momma Pearl’s Cajun Kitchen celebrated a decade of Louisiana-style cuisine in Colorado Springs, but just a few weeks ago, its owners said goodbye to the community as they announced the restaurant’s permanent closure.

“There are so many restaurants that are suffering and closing their doors right now… I know it’s not just me,” said Owner and Chef Robert Brunet of Momma Pearl’s, also known as “Chef BB.”

Brunet showed FOX21 what was left of his beloved eatery. “Here we are,” Brunet said as he lifted the door to one of two storage units. “This is the rubble that’s left over.”

Brunet plans to sell what remains of Momma Pearl’s after announcing its closure on June 17, something other restaurant owners in the area can relate to, as many have also had to close their doors in Colorado Springs.

“Unfortunately it’s not anything unique to the Springs; it’s something that we’ve seen state-wide,” said Colin Larson, Director of Affairs for the Colorado Restaurant Association when asked about the closures.

Larson said that though El Paso County has faired better than other parts of the state, locally-owned restaurants have faced many obstacles.

“We had a huge regulatory burden over the last four years [coupled with] additional things like family paid medical leave, paid sick leave, the Colorado Secure Savings Act, and additional regulations on hiring and labor practices coming out of the state legislature which has been really difficult,” explained Larson. “Colorado [also] had the worst restaurant inflation in the entire country last year.”

Locally, Brunet noted that his taxes increased by $1,000 a month, which impacted an already slim profit margin. “The most disturbing trend, especially over the past six months, was the reduction in visitation to the restaurant; just fewer people going out, and again, a lot of my friends are seeing the same thing,” Brunet explained.

Despite the closure, Brunet doesn’t count the loss of his restaurant as a failure and thanked the community for its support.

“I will always be grateful for the people who came to our restaurant, supported us, supported my family, and supported our journey here in Colorado Springs.”

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