A city-centre restaurant known for its cheeky service and viral concept has announced its permanent closure, citing VAT costs faced by many small businesses, writes Clare McGoldrick.

Karen’s Gone Wild, which opened on Dublin’s O’Connell Street in early 2024 as Karen's Diner, was originally part of a global chain inspired by the viral ‘Karen’ meme – where waiters and waitresses playfully adopt rude personas and pretend to deal with difficult customers.

A ‘Karen’, in modern slang, is a rude, entitled middle-class woman who is typically seeking to speak to a shop or restaurant’s management about trivial complaints.

In November 2024, the venue rebranded as Karen’s Gone Wild, becoming an independently owned Irish restaurant.

Despite the local ownership and loyal customer base, the team confirmed via social media over the weekend that the business will close for good this Sunday.

It said: “After a wild ride, we’ve decided it’s time to shut our doors. Karen’s will officially close after Sunday, August 3rd.

“So if you’ve ever wanted to experience the madness (or come back for round two), now’s your last chance.

“Like many independent spots, we’ve felt the pressure – VAT at 13.5%, rising costs, tight margins, and so much more.”

It added: “A huge thank you to everyone who supported us, shouted at us, laughed with us, and made this place what it was.

“It’s been unreal. Once again thank you for being part of it – we hope to see you one last time before we turn off the lights.”

A growing number of hospitality venues are struggling to stay afloat, as rising operational costs, VAT increases and narrow profit margins continue to plague small businesses across the country.