The man in charge of the 'Save Bewleys' campaign has called on the Government to step in over the temporary closure of the iconic restaurant on Grafton Street.
Damien Cassidy (pictured) has been running a campaign to save the cafe since it first announced it was under financial strain in 2004.
Today he told the Evening Herald that the site should be made into a national monument, thus protecting it from planned refurbishments.
It was announced in January that the site would be closing for at least six months while renovations were underway. Some 140 jobs were lost as result, with the company claiming the changes were necessary "to secure its long term future on Grafton Street."
Cassidy, however, is seeking to preserve the building, as he stated that the planned changes will "destroy the ambience of the place" as well as cost jobs.
"I'm calling on the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht to intervene and make Bewley's a protected building in order to preserve it," said Cassidy, adding "I will take this to the European courts if I have to."
The restoration of Bewley's is expected to cost over €1 million. Opening hours will be reduced and there will be just 70 employees when it reopens in the Autumn.
