INDIANAPOLIS — Duos Indy, a popular Indianapolis lunch cafe that has been open since 2010, is permanently shutting its doors.
Duos' kitchen announced it would be closing Friday, Sept. 25, just the day prior. The community favorite quoted the coronavirus pandemic and the government as the reason for the sudden closure.
"We are sad to say that Duos will close forever after lunch tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 25. Over the last few months, we’ve witnessed the dominoes of near and dear restaurants falling, afraid that we would join them—but hopeful, because that’s who we are," Duos Indy said in its announcement on Facebook. "But we’ve finally had to face the reality that because of the pandemic and our inept government, staying open is no longer an option. We'd hoped we could give you more notice, but unfortunately, closing after lunch tomorrow made the most sense."
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Duos was located on the near northside of Indy, just south of The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. It was a popular lunch spot for people who work in the area, museum staff, and many others in the Indy community.
Duos prided itself on being a kitchen "for everybody," and also operated at Eskenazi Hospital and City Market.
The grim news of another local favorite closing comes just a few days after the National Restaurant Association released its survey that found it's unlikely that 41% of Indiana's restaurants will still be in business come next March.
"We’re devastated. We're also angry, on our own behalf, and for the many more small businesses who aren’t going to survive into a post-pandemic world," said the Facebook post.
"You can't live on a quarter of what you did," said Becky Hostetter, co-owner and chef. She thinks more government assistance is needed for small businesses. She says money from the Paycheck Protection Program is running out, and she says that program wasn't set up in a way to help businesses like hers. "In order for a loan to be forgiven you need to hire as much staff as you initially had, but we don’t have the sales to support that staff hiring. There are so many factors."
She hopes elected officials find ways to support small businesses moving forward.
"You've got to be there for us... You can’t separate the attraction and vibrancy of an urban area from the small businesses that make it so."
