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'Our cup is empty': Economic crunch claims another popular cafe

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 22 Sept 2025, 3:22pm
Wellington cafe and games store Caffeinated Dragon Games has announced it will close next month. Photo / 123rf
Wellington cafe and games store Caffeinated Dragon Games has announced it will close next month. Photo / 123rf

'Our cup is empty': Economic crunch claims another popular cafe

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 22 Sept 2025, 3:22pm

Another popular cafe has struck hard times, with Wellington games store and cafe Caffeinated Dragon Games closing its doors next month.

The cafe’s final day will be October 12.

Caffeinated Dragon Games announced its closure on Facebook at the weekend.

“Our cup is empty,” the post read.

“Like so many other businesses, we’ve faced increasing financial challenges and falling sales and have continued to the point, probably past the point, where we could remain viable.”

Caffeinated Dragon Games said it was having a 50% off sale, starting today, excluding snacks, drinks dice, events and the games library.

“Our goals right now is to see to it that everyone has some fun in these last few weeks, and that the memories we’ve built are not only honoured but capable of being built upon in the future, even if we are not there.

“Thank you all, it has been our pleasure.”

The cafe said there would be “more news soon”.

Last month, popular Wellington brewery and pub Fortune Favours announced it was closing down after nearly a decade.

Owners Shannon Thorpe and Dale Cooper said the business was no longer financially sustainable.

“Unfortunately, the cost-of-living crisis has proven too difficult for us to navigate. We’re down 20% on last year, which was already 25% down on the year before,” a post on the company’s social media read.

Recent Centrix data showed hospitality is the second-largest industry contributing to company liquidations, with 297 recorded in the 12 months to July, up 49% on the prior year.

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