To close or not to close: A heavy decision for Eden-a Vegan Cafe

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— To close or not to close. It’s a heavy decision for a business owner in our area struggling as rising costs are a constant obstacle.

28/22 News Reporter Sydney Kostus stopped by Eden-a Vegan Cafe in Wilkes-Barre and has more on its future.

“[The] food business is always hard, and things have just gotten so much harder,” said Christian Pilosi.

Whipping up treats like peanut butter banana bread and entrees such as tuna salad and a chicken bacon ranch wrap, but it’s all vegan. Pilosi, the owner of Eden-a Vegan Cafe in Wilkes-Barre, has been doing this since opening up his first location in Scranton back in 2008.

16 years later, he’s now faced with the obstacle of keeping his doors open due to the woes of inflation.

“With rising costs of the products we need to buy, you know a dip in the economy, and people not able to eat out as much as they once did, I just got to the point you know rubbing two dimes together trying to make a quarter, and it gets hard and it got to the point where I had to come to the realization that it’s just not going to be sustainable,” Pilosi told 28/22 News.

Pilosi took to social media two weeks ago, posting that he will have to close the shops due to these struggles.

“Our family enjoyed so many vegan meals at Eden over the past 15 years,” shared Pilosi.

Reading through the nearly 400 shares and comments, he gets choked up from the outpouring of support.

“You will be deeply missed, but I will be forever grateful for my first vegan restaurant,” Pilosi read. “I remember us looking for a certain kind of cheese that we were unable to purchase around here and you were able to get it for us. The kindness you’ve shown to your customers will be remembered.”

He says an uptick in support from the community means the end isn’t in sight just yet. Pilosi says the shops on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre and Adams Avenue in Scranton will remain open as they’re taking it week-by-week.

“Some opportunities kind of presented themselves. We’re in discussions with some people that might want to be able to find some ways to keep us going. Some investments, maybe some partnerships.” he explained.

The fate of Eden remains unknown, but Pilosi says he has hope from his community.

“We’ll see what happens, but even if it did end, those memories made will last a lifetime and live on in all of the people that have shared their time here,” Pilosi said.

The Eden-a Vegan Cafe shops in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton are open from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. today through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

28/22 News will keep you updated on if the shop is able to keep its doors open.

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