WESTPORT — Manna Toast, a downtown café whose mission was to inspire “a cultural shift toward plant-based eating,” has announced plans to close at the end of the year.

The restaurant, which opened at 29 Church Lane during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, specializes in what was called “non-GMO, sustainable, artisanal, organic, and intentionally sourced from small and family-owned agricultural partners.”

In a message emailed Monday to thank customers and the community, the owners explained that although their initial business plans called for growth and possibly opening other locations in Fairfield County, “unfortunately, in the current labor market in our segment of the restaurant industry, and due to varying priorities in our personal and business lives, we’ve chosen not to invest in scaling the business.”

That said, however, the owners say they are proud of their restaurant’s accomplishments over the last two years, serving “nearly 30,000 customers” and by “composting over 15,000 pounds of food waste and consistently investing in compostable and recyclable packaging.”

They also cite their record in providing “well-paying jobs during one of the most economically challenging times in our history.”

The restaurant will remain open for the next three weeks, along with the options of take-out and delivery orders.