After 13 years, a downtown Oakland cafe founded and lovingly operated by a Sri Lankan immigrant is closing.
Anula’s Cafe on Franklin Street is another victim of the times, said owner and cook Anula Edirisinghe. The rent is rising, the work-from-home trend has depleted her customer base and it just doesn’t make financial sense to stay open.
“I have a tiny, tiny cafe but I make hot food,” she said. “But business is slow.”
Anula’s serves Sri Lankan specialties like curry chicken, jerk chicken, chicken roti, lamb curry and lamprais, a traditional dish of various meats, vegetables and rice wrapped in a banana leaf. She also serves breakfast, coffee, smoothies and homemade cake.
Edirisinghe will miss the cooking, she said, but also the customers, who she prefers to consider part of her family.
“It’s not easy for me,” she said of the decision to close. “This is like my life, I love to cook, I love the people. I talk to almost everybody. I get them fresh food. I make them smile in the face.”
Edirisinghe plans to take some time off after closing the cafe, then wants to find another kitchen and resume catering, she said.
The last day for Anula’s Cafe is Thursday. The cafe, at 1319 Franklin St., is open from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays.
Michael Cabanatuan (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan
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August 03, 2022 at 12:33AM
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Beloved Oakland Sri Lankan cafe Anula's to close - San Francisco Chronicle
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