Last week Chef Angela Pike outlined the reasons why she is closing The Silly Axe Cafe, her 100% gluten-free eatery inside the Logan Street Market. The cafe’s last weekend is to begin Thursday, August 1.
Pike’s words came in a comment at Facebook, and they’re heartfelt. Read on.
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Five and a half years ago I set out on a mission to be the first restaurant in Louisville to provide a 100% gluten free dining experience. I set my sights big and opened a full restaurant inside the Douglass Loop.
Through a global pandemic, employment crisis, food shortages and price gouging I have managed to maintain my original goal. It’s a tough business and I set up a Go Fund me in Summer of 2022 to help keep our doors open and was humbled beyond belief when you not only kept the doors open you helped me survive, amassing almost 30 grand in donations to keep my little place open.
In October of 2022 I made the decision to downsize. My goal was to take a few steps back to expand. I relocated The Silly Axe Café to the inside of Logan Street Market. Sadly, things started off shaky. What was supposed to be an exciting move and time for growth, turned into a one year cancer battle when two weeks after we reopened my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer.
I mostly stepped away from my place throughout his battle, having to spend countless months in different cities seeking alternative treatments for his deadly cancer. Unfortunately, on January 27 of this year, he lost his battle with cancer. I have lost my partner and best friend of 27 years, the father of our three teens and my best friend.
The loss has been immeasurable. And while the business is there, mentally I am not. It takes a lot of mental fortitude and stamina to keep a small business or restaurant running. And right now, my kids need me. I need me. Even my dog needs me.
I have decided to rebrand myself as Chef Ange: The Silly Axe Chef. I will be closing the physical version of Silly Axe that you have grown to love but I am not going anywhere.
Please stay tuned for pop up events, workshops, dessert sales coming back, biscuit and waffle sales, even our ranch seasoning! Cooking classes, events at Mesa, pop up events with other local restaurants and booking private dinners at your home!!
I want to work with local restaurants to help more places provide celiac safe options and really understand what being celiac means. I have so much excitement in store. This is not goodbye. Please do not be sad for me. I am so excited to close this chapter and start something new. I can never be the same after losing half of me. It is time to reinvent who I am.
Thank you for everyone who has supported and continues to support me on my journey. I can’t wait to see friendly familiar faces at different events around town.
Effective immediately, Silly Axe will be closed. We will be reopening on Thursday August 1 for a final weekend where you can come and get your favorite foods from Silly Axe, even fair food favorites. Thank you for all the love and continued support.
Love, Chef Ange
