'Sad it didn't work out': SōDOUGH Baking Co. closes, latest owners return to former professions

A little over six months after a local husband and wife bought SōDOUGH Baking Co. in Midtown, it permanently closed.

The shutdown was a result of a number of factors labeled "a perfect storm" by co-owner Chris Leduc, 28, including rising food and labor costs and a slow down in business.

"Our lease was coming up and honestly we weren't getting support from the community," he said. "We were down over 50% this summer and a lot of days we were probably closer to a 77% drop in revenue."

Back story:Time to make the doughnuts: How a COVID nurse and her husband became owners of SōDOUGH Baking Co.

SōDOUGH — 1306 Thomasville Road — is the latest locally owned eatery to close this month.

Last week, All Saints Cafe announced it would shut down, placing a period on an 18-year run of business on Railroad Avenue.

On June 15, the Lindy's Chicken location on South Monroe closed after more than 45 years. (Its 1231 E. Lafayette Street location remains open).

Recent restaurant closures:

• 'A labor of love': Railroad Avenue's All Saints Cafe to close, owners accepting donations

• 'Time has caught up with us': As S. Monroe Lindy's Chicken closes, owner remains optimistic

• 'Amazing journey': La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant announces closure, owners plan to retire

These closures build on a growing list of beloved Tallahassee staples that have shuttered their doors since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Others include Cabo's, Barnaby's, La Fiesta, Jim and Milt's and Carlos' Cuban Grill.

Chris Leduc and his wife, Crystal, 26, bought the Thomasville Road bakery in early January.

He was a photographer and she was a nurse in need of a revitalizing project after months working during the relentless COVID-19 pandemic.

It is these jobs the pair have returned to after their brief stint as business owners.

She accepted a position at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, which is where she started her nursing career before moving away and eventually taking a position at HCA Florida Capital Hospital — known as Capital Regional Medical Center at the time.

Chris Leduc said his wife is excited for her return to health care. And while he never halted his photography, he is looking forward to immersing himself again in his main passion.

"We would have loved for SōDOUGH to do better and we could have kept it open," he said. "We both love SōDOUGH... and (we) put our hearts and souls into it.

"It's sad that it didn't work out because... we think we improved upon a lot of things."

Contact Christopher Cann at ccann@tallahassee.com and follow @ChrisCannFL on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: SōDOUGH Baking Co. closes after 7 months of new ownership