Why Did Shakespeare and Co Close in The UAE?
Is the homegrown café-restaurant’s closure temporary or for good?
“Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.” Written by the legendary Shakespeare in his iconic Romeo and Juliet (Act-II, Scene-II), such woeful words resonate particularly strongly seeing as homegrown café restaurant concept Shakespeare and Co. has reportedly been closing down across the country.
Shakespeare and Co. is an integral part of the café restaurant scene in the UAE. Exuding vintage charm with its modern Victorian architecture style and décor, Shakespeare and Co. is the perfect spot to luxuriate in a quintessentially British tea-time. At this opulent spot, we’ve indulged in our favourite European delicacies, elevated with a unique Lebanese twist– ranging from the classic Eggs Benedict to the nostalgic Za’atar pizza.
Unfortunately, lovers of the homegrown café restaurant have begun to notice that several Shakespeare and Co. spots across the UAE are allegedly closing down. According to Gulf News, Shakespeare and Co. branches have reportedly closed down in Arabian Ranches, the Trade Centre area, and the Meadows Souk. In 2021, the brand also announced that its Village Mall Jumeirah branch would close its doors for good.
Why Did Shakespeare and Co. Reportedly Close In The UAE?
The most straightforward explanation would be that Shakespeare and Co. is simply re-branding or redecorating, a process which typically requires temporary closure of the premises. In fact, if you visit Shakespeare and Co.’s official website, you will be notified that they “are currently not accepting any orders online.” In addition, the website cryptically indicates that the brand is “coming soon.”
Shakespeare and Co. was acquired by International Investment Company SNASCO Holding. SNASCO’s acquisition plan consisted of expanding the café restaurant concept—across the GCC and globally.
According to Carter Middle East, CEO Sheikh Saleh Al Sorayai declared, “The acquisition will be in line with our strategy of investing in high-quality businesses with strong growth potential, and we believe that Shakespeare and Co. are well-positioned to capture the growing demand for high-quality casual dining experiences in the region.”
SNASCO Holding has not commented on whether or not the cafe chain has shut its locations for good or whether we could be seeing a comeback in the future.
History could be repeating itself, insofar as the Shakespeare and Co. phenomenon could prove to be another Reem Al Bawadi case—a restaurant chain which permanently shut down after having been acquired by Marka.
Lead image courtesy of Instagram ()