Piping Plover Cafe Closes Doors

A favorite cafe among Southold residents has closed its doors.

The Piping Plover Cafe, located in the Feather Hill shopping center, closed in October, owner Ken Myers confirmed on Thursday.

"I closed the shop itself, but I'm still catering," Myers said.

Myers said after his wife, Jennifer, was injured in a "terrible car accident," the path was difficult for the couple. "We ended up getting a divorce; it was really tough on us." 

His wife worked with Myers at the Piping Plover and, after the divorce, he said, "I just don't think my heart was in it anymore."

The couple, he added, remains "good friends."

Myers said a "series of really unfortunate events" also led to his decision to close. First, his wife's car accident four years earlier left her with a traumatic brain injury. Next, his father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three years ago; Myers lost his father a year later.

After his father's death, Myers and his wife separated last year; his divorce was finalized in September. Soon after they separated, the couple's beloved pit bull Phyllo, just two years old, died from an intestinal infection.

"I opened the business with my dad and my wife," Myers said. "Losing them took my heart out of the day to day grind at the shop. I had to move on, there were too many ghosts at Feather Hill."

But, he added,"I love the North Fork and its people so I am going to continue serving them through my new company, East End Event Co."

Myers said he will continue to offer the same services that he did at the Piping Plover Cafe, including boxed lunches, full service event planning and catering, catering everything from backyard BBQs and clam bakes to high-end weddings and corporate events, and parties of 15 to 400 guests.

Meanwhile, a new business, "Wednesday's Table," is set to open soon at the site, according to a sign on the door; no further details were immediately available about the new owners. 

Southold residents said they will miss the Piping Plover's array of gourmet sandwiches, salads and wraps. "It was a great place with great food and service and I wish the owners well," Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said.

Terry Walker, secretary of the North Fork Chamber of Commerce, said many locals turned to Myers for catering events.

To contact Myers at his catering business, East End Event Co., where he now works full-time, call 631-338-0104.

To his loyal patrons, Myers said, "I would just like to thank them for their years of support and for their continued support as I move forward."