After a temporary three-week closure in January and February, a West Columbia market and meal-prep business is calling it quits for good.

Primal, which rebranded from Primal Gourmet and incorporated Brickhouse Gourmet Coffee and Tea into its Meeting Street space upon reopening Feb. 15, announced via an April 3 Facebook post marked as being from owner Greg Martin that it would cease operations on April 4.

The business — which emphasized fresh, healthy foods made with local ingredients — opened its brick-and-mortar location in 2019.

The post explains that there will be no more meal packs prepared moving forward and that anyone who has placed an order should receive a refund.

“As you can imagine, it’s not just one issue,” Martin writes in explanation of why the business is closing. “It’s many, many problems that became too complex and daunting to overcome. If anyone is to blame for the situation we found ourselves in, of course that person is me. 

“While I consider myself an expert in foodservice operations, this was my first time ever owning a business. Let me tell you, I learned more than I ever realized there was to know about being a business owner and still didn’t learn enough. Luckily though, I got to lead an incredible staff. We have been fortunate enough to employ without a doubt the best group of humans that ever ran a foodservice establishment. I mean that. If I had a nickel for every time someone complimented me on my team, I wouldn’t have any problems today.”

When the business announced its temporary closure, it took to Facebook, explaining that “ongoing supply chain issues, the shortage of qualified employees, the extreme increases in the cost of goods we require, and the never-ending challenges of the pandemic have crippled our ability to operate in the way we have promised our customers.”

Martin’s letter assures that the businesses that have moved into the space will continue, specifically highlighting Brickhouse and Dorsia Pasta Co, which makes and sells gourmet pasta and offers classes on the process.

“I’m still there and doing my thing,” reads a Facebook post by Dorsia, owned and operated by Bryan Pierce Bowers, sharing Primal’s letter. “Just a little bump in the road, but this journey is far from finished!”

The Chronicle reached out to Brickhouse for comment and is awaiting a response.

Martin’s letter also teased additional possibilities for the space moving forward.

“The market will still remain as what I’m calling a ‘Collaborative Market,’” he writes. “Other new businesses will be opening soon as well. I am proud to say what comes after Primal Gourmet could be even better [than] what we accomplished! Once we have our new residents in place, we will be introducing a name change for the market and a Grand Opening!”