Alfresco restaurant has been met with an outpouring of community support, following news the much-loved Italian, Caribbean, and seafood seaside eatery would be closing its doors on Monday, after 18 years.
Members of the public flocked to the restaurant, on the corner of Mary Mollie Hydes Road and West Bay Road, in West Bay, over the weekend after the closure was announced on social media at the end of last week.
“It’s unsustainable,” the restaurant’s owner and chef, Phillip Wilson, 58, told the Compass. “Financially and emotionally, I cannot take any more of the stress.”
Wilson said with an “unfair” increase in rent and costs, paying off debt and recovering from the financial strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, he could not catch a break.
“This place is like a nightmare. It doesn’t work. I’m not a young guy any more. When I opened in 2006, I worked seven days per week, sometimes 15, 14 hours to make Alfresco come out to be something.”
Wilson made the announcement on social media Friday, prompting mixed reactions from people including shock and sadness, as well as concern over the reasons for the closure.
One social media user, @sookie345, said “the best conch fritter I ever had was from here. This is so sad!”
“Truly a hidden gem,” @sparkdbymer_ said. “Thank you and I will surely miss your restaurant.”
@fabulosity345_beeangel said, “probably wan him move out now so they can tear that down n build another mansion on the beach! #caymanproblems”.
And from @robbushybush: “literally in tears, enjoyed food there up to last weekend. Hope you find another place in West bay soon. Best wishes”.
‘Cannot be one-sided any longer’
The Compass reached out to the property owner, Woody DaCosta, who said it was a business decision that Wilson chose not to come to terms with.
“He has been unreasonable. We have owned this property for over 50 years,” DaCosta said. “We’ve helped Phillip along the way, we’ve been happy to help him, but things have come to a point where it cannot be a one-sided scenario any longer.”
For Wilson, a native of Jamaica, Cayman has been home since he was 18 years old. He found a love for the culinary industry, he said, adding that the business he started from nothing has grown into a flourishing establishment.
It’s not just a business for Wilson, either, it’s about people, he said. “Some people don’t cook on the weekend, they come and pick up their dinner from Alfresco. People from all over the world return to enjoy not just the beauty of these islands, but the uniqueness of our food.”
In addition to the culinary delights offered at the restaurant, Wilson has supported a number of non-profit organisations in the community.
While many residents have expressed their disappointment in the closure, Wilson said “a new Alfresco will emerge from the dust again, but not at this location”.
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