A bittersweet final bite for customers of pastry chef Lawless in Durham

Customers came out in droves Sunday to say goodbye to two Durham restaurants. "Scratch" and "Lakewood," both on Chapel Hill Road have officially closed their doors.

Posted 7:52 p.m. Jul 29, 2018 — Updated 11:11 p.m. Jul 29, 2018

Mikaya Thurmond

, WRAL reporter/anchor

DURHAM, N.C. — Customers came out in droves Sunday to say goodbye to two Durham restaurants. "Scratch" and "Lakewood," both on Chapel Hill Road have officially closed their doors. Pastry chef Phoebe Lawless announced she'd close both ventures in an Instagram post, and she declined further comment Sunday.

Lawless left the talking to the diners.

"I really like their pastries," said Ashley Jackson, of Durham.

Lawless started out at the original version of Scratch eight years ago on Durham's Orange Street. Just over a year ago, she opened The Lakewood, with a Scratch outpost next door.

The loss of all three over a period of just a couple of months is a blow to those who've come to sample everything from baked goods to burgers.

"I'm sorry to see the coffee shop and pastries close," Jackson said.

"We've always loved the grits here," said Alycia Inserra. "It was great that this was opening up in this neighborhood, and I think it's sad that it's going to go away."

Diners Sunday hoped their enthusiasm would encourage Lawless to consider another Bull City venture soon.

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