The iconic café shut down earlier this month.

The campaign to save and reopen Bewley's following its closure earlier this year begins today. The coffee shop, first established on Dublin's Grafton's Street in 1927, closed its doors permanently for the second time this month due to Covid-19 restrictions and an annual rent of €1.5 million. Over 100 staff members lost their jobs following the closure; the second time Bewley's has been forced to shut its doors in the past 20 years. A campaign to reopen the café begins today, as locals are encouraged to join a socially distant demonstration this morning. Organiser Damien Cassidy has said that he hopes there is a way to save the café. Following Bewley's closure, an online petition was started to "save the iconic Dublin institution-which plays such an important place in the city's historic and cultural life." "The Dublin city development plan recognises that Bewleys 'contributes significantly to the special and unique character of Grafton Street' and protects the building for use as a cafe," read the petition. "Losing Bewley's would not just be be a big lost for those that love but for Dublin as a city." You can check out the petition here.