A Belfast restaurant owner has told how the Primark fire 'reset' his business back to day one.
James Neilly said the decision to close Pizza Boutique on Castle Street was a difficult one but added: "Unfortunately, now is the time'.
Opened at number 34 Castle Street in 2017, it will close at the end of the month.
He told Belfast Live: "My plan was to generate enough capital in a pop-up unit to then move to a permanent full-time site that I could put a full-time alcohol license in.
"When the fire occurred on August 28, that reset us back to day one. We’ve treaded water since then but we certainly haven’t made any money. It’s just got to the point where we unfortunately can’t go on any longer."
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James also owns Pizza Boutiques on the Saintfield Road and in Hillsborough.
He said that the support from the people of Belfast has been strong, and added that lessons have been learned.
He said: "We’re approaching this with a level head, we continued for as long as possible. There have been a few lessons learned.
"Food without an alcohol license - I’m not too sure it can sustain a drop in sales like we seen after the fire. That whole area is going to take a long time to recover."
Primark reopened on Castle Street, but James said that there was limited impact footfall-wise for his business.
He said: “From our point of view, there was a little bit of footfall past our door but that footfall that’s visiting Primark seems to be in and out and away again.
"Our product is primarily an evening product. It might have worked a little bit better for some of the traders who are more daytime. Pizza is not necessarily a lunchtime item. Though I do hope that it has improved things for other traders and any that do remain in the area, we’d just wish them the best.
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"I don’t even think throughout the Troubles an event has affected the city like this has for such a long time.
"From our point of view once that fire occurred, we just saw that there was no magic wand to drive people down there. The council tried their best, they tried to host events, they had a go at Christmas. They did what they could to help but I think it’s just tough down there for everyone.
"In the short term, the people of Belfast really bandied together. But then convenience takes over and there’s a bit of apathy and lack of appetite to walk four blocks around the city to find your favourite place.
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"Collectively we made the decision not too long ago that now’s the time, unfortunately. I'm just going to take the opportunity now to focus on the other businesses as much as I can."
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