To the editor:

It was with chagrin and not a little shock that I read of the change in the Paradise Cafe. For years, I’ve taken every out-of-town guest there, explaining, “It’s amazing. It’s unique and comfortable, the people are great, and the food is solidly excellent.” No one was disappointed, and most of my guests asked to go back. Though their doors aren’t closing, I will not return.

The Paradise Cafe represented an example of why I love Lawrence. Locally owned, unique and extraordinary, it was a wonderful way to demonstrate that the chains couldn’t top what we could make ourselves.

I make a conscious choice to support local businesses. I eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at downtown merchants, preferring to keep my dollars in my community. I don’t do this out of some misguided leftover from the “Buy Union; Buy American” days. It’s because I believe in encouraging my community when it does something extraordinary, and rewarding that with my patronage.

I don’t believe that laying off over 30 people without warning is particularly extraordinary and see no reason to reward a company that ends a tradition of fine food served cheerfully in a comfortable atmosphere to add yet another bar to Massachusetts Street. I noted the expansion with approval, thinking that the Paradise Cafe was doing well, and I was glad to see them succeed. Had I known that they were planning this, I’d have eaten elsewhere that day.

Lisa Hagemann,

Lawrence